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Biden Promises US Re-engagement with the World

Nike Ching

   President Joe Biden promised Thursday that the United States would
   sharply increase its engagement around the world during his White House
   tenure, ending what he contended was "four years of neglect and abuse"
   of foreign relations by former President Donald Trump.

   "America is back," Biden declared at the State Department in his first
   major foreign policy address as president. "America cannot afford to be
   absent on the world stage. Diplomacy is at the center of our foreign
   policy."

   He said that "American alliances are our greatest assets," while
   warning both Russia and China of American resolve. Trump, employing an
   "America First" credo, had often quarreled with traditional U.S. allies
   while taking a softer tone with authoritarian states.

   Biden said he told Russian President Vladimir Putin in a phone call
   last week that "the days of the U.S. rolling over" to Moscow "are
   over."

   The U.S. leader called on Putin to immediately release opposition
   leader Alexey Navalny "without condition." Navalny was sentenced to 2½
   years in prison this week after returning from Germany, where he had
   been recovering from being poisoned with a nerve agent last year by
   suspected Russian agents.

   As for China, Biden said, "We'll work with Beijing when it's in our
   interest to do so."

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