Biden's Foreign Policy Team Takes Shape: Career Diplomats and Experts Emerge as Key Nominees

Strategic Insights -

U.S. President-elect Joe Biden is expected to nominate a slate of career diplomats and foreign policy experts to key posts in his administration, marking a significant shift away from the Trump era's "America First" agenda and nationalist rhetoric. Antony Blinken, 58, is likely to be the secretary of state pick, with Jake Sullivan, 43, selected as national security adviser, and Linda Thomas-Greenfield, 68, chosen as UN ambassador. These nominees have extensive backgrounds in foreign policy and international relations, with Blinken and Sullivan having a close relationship and serving as key members of Biden's brain trust on foreign policy issues.

Key Takeaways:

  • Antony Blinken is likely to be nominated as secretary of state, bringing extensive experience in the field and a background in multilateralism and liberal internationalism.
  • Jake Sullivan will serve as national security adviser, having previously worked as a policy planning expert for former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and as former Vice President Biden's national security adviser.
  • Linda Thomas-Greenfield, a veteran of the foreign service with over three decades of experience, is expected to be nominated as UN ambassador, with a focus on regaining allies' trust and rejoining international agreements such as the Iran nuclear deal and the Paris climate accord.
  • The Biden administration is expected to restore the UN ambassador position to a cabinet-level post, a move aimed at reversing the downgrade made by the Trump administration.
  • The nominations are seen as a significant departure from the Trump era's "America First" agenda and nationalist rhetoric, with a focus on rebuilding international relationships and reentering global agreements.
  • The ease of distribution is crucial for developing countries, with AstraZeneca's vaccine being a relatively less expensive and more convenient option for distribution compared to other vaccine front-runners.
  • Israeli Prime Minister Benyamin Netanyahu has met with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in Neom for talks on establishing diplomatic links and countering the threat posed by Iran, with other Arab countries expected to follow suit in normalizing relations with Israel.

Statistics:

  • Antony Blinken is 58 years old and has an extensive background in foreign policy and international relations.
  • Jake Sullivan is 43 years old and has worked as a policy planning expert for former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and as former Vice President Biden's national security adviser.
  • Linda Thomas-Greenfield is 68 years old and has served in the foreign service for over three decades, with experience working at US diplomatic posts around the world.
  • AstraZeneca's vaccine is up to 90% effective when given as a half-dose initially and then a full booster one month later.
  • The AstraZeneca vaccine can be stored using regular refrigeration, unlike the subzero temperatures required for the Pfizer-BioNTech candidate or standard hospital freezers needed by Moderna's vaccine.

Sources:

  • "Top of The World -- our morning news roundup written by editors at The World. (http://theworld.org/newsletters)"
  • "US President-elect Joe Biden is expected to nominate a slate of (http://totw.theworld.org/t/i-l-mjjyhik-jjtyllyhtj-p/) career diplomats and foreign policy experts to key posts in his administration."
  • "Blinken, 58, was deputy secretary of state during the Obama administration, and his extensive background in the field would boost American reentry into the world of multilateralism and liberal internationalism..."
  • "Sullivan, 43, actually succeeded Blinken as former Vice President Biden's national security adviser and, with a focus on policy planning, was former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton's closest strategic adviser."
  • "Thomas-Greenfield, 68, served in the foreign service for over three decades and has worked at US diplomatic posts around the world."
  • "AstraZeneca has said its vaccine, developed with Oxford University, is (http://totw.theworld.org/t/i-l-mjjyhik-jjtyllyhtj-f/) up to 90% effective when given as a half-dose initially and then a full booster one month later."
  • "Israeli Prime Minister Benyamin Netanyahu flew Sunday to the (http://totw.theworld.org/t/i-l-mjjyhik-jjtyllyhtj-v/) Red Sea future city of Neom for talks with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman."