Biden: 'America is back' -- but democracy 'under assault' in United States
- by Leland Aguilar
- in Entertaiment
- — Feb 20, 2021
Biden's comments are expected on Friday at a special virtual gathering of the Munich Security Conference (MSC) - the world's leading forum at which global leaders, politicians and experts discuss pressing issues of worldwide affairs and global policy.
Joe Biden issued a triumphant rallying call during the Munich Security Conference but failed to mention the UK.
"Democracy doesn't happen by accident", the president told the security conference.
The United States on Friday officially returned to the Paris climate accord, with Biden vowing to make the fight against global warming a top priority.
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson has promised to share surplus vaccine doses with developing countries and expressed interest in a global health treaty to ensure proper transparency in dealing with future pandemics.
The Biden administration announced Thursday its desire to reengage Iran, and it took action at the United Nations aimed at restoring policy to what it was before President Donald Trump withdrew from the deal in 2018.
"He will get the opportunity as president of the United States, early in his term, to declare that America is back and the transatlantic alliance is back", the official said. President Joe Biden is expected to speak at 11:15 a.m. EST.
He "will also discuss the global economic recovery, including the importance of all industrial countries maintaining economic support for the recovery" and "the importance of updating global roles to tackle economic challenges such as those posed by China", Psaki said. "And if we work together with our democratic partners, with strength and confidence, I know that we will meet every challenge and outpace every challenger", Biden is expected to say.
"Our partnerships have endured and grown through the years because they are rooted in the richness of our shared democratic values".
On coronavirus vaccines, Biden pledged an additional $2 billion to the COVAX worldwide vaccine-access initiative, a vow that comes as wealthy nations have faced criticism for not helping to deploy coronavirus vaccines faster in the developing world.
Rolling back Trump's nationalist policies has already become a hallmark of Biden's short time at the White House. And on Friday he plans to make clear his markedly different approach to Russia, China and Iran, the official told reporters.
After Trump approached Russian Federation gingerly, Biden said "the Kremlin attacks our democracies and weaponizes corruption to try to undermine our system of governance".
Blinken said, among other things, sanctions imposed on Russian Federation for its aggression in Donbas and Crimea should remain in place until Moscow fully implements its commitments on the peaceful settlement of the conflict. "Everyone, everyone must play by the same rules". "We will work with our European and other partners as we proceed".
Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Thursday told his counterparts from France, Germany and the United Kingdom that the U.S.is prepared to engage in discussions with Iran in an attempt to reach an agreement on returning to full compliance of the 2015 nuclear deal, according to a joint statement by the three nations.
Iran has said it will stop part of International Atomic Energy Agency inspections of its nuclear facilities next week if the West doesn't implement its own commitments under the 2015 deal.
© Christopher Black/WHO via Reuters, FILE Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director General of the World Health Organization attends a news conference on the outbreak of coronavirus disease in Geneva, Switzerland, Feb. 12, 2021.
Six weeks after pro-Trump rioters stormed the U.S. Capitol to halt Congress' certification of the electoral college results, Biden acknowledged that "democratic progress is under assault" in the United States and across Europe.
"We must address Iran's destabilizing activities across the Middle East", Biden said.
Biden's remarks will build upon his actions in office so far.
Biden's turn on the world stage comes as the US on Friday officially rejoins the Paris climate agreement, the largest worldwide effort to curb global warming.