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Opinion | As Biden eyes re-election, how stable is his doctrine?
- Despite its contradictions, US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen’s speech in April affirmed at least four tenets of the American president’s doctrine
- However, in the run-up to the 2024 election, the moorings of Biden’s policy approach may prove less deeply anchored than suggested now
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US President Joe Biden’s re-election pitch speaks to a moral imperative – defend democracy. America must stand firm against any assault, he insists. His values-based modus vivendi for domestic politics equally drives his approaches to foreign policy, national security and international trade.
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Whether this and other tenets espoused by his administration constitute a “doctrine” – a cohesive, principles-based approach to world politics that specifies goals, projects values and shows bearing – is up for fair debate.
Presidential doctrines are seldom articulated through consistent actions. Biden’s ambitions are often in conflict. He is rebuilding alliances yet spearheaded non-tariff trade barriers that a jilted European Union angrily called discriminatory and punitive. He takes unilateral actions, such as the abrupt pull-out from Afghanistan.
He also cuts bilateral and trilateral deals, such as the Aukus alliance with Britain and Australia to share technologies for nuclear-powered submarines. Caught by surprise, France was furious at losing an estimated US$66 billion contract signed in 2016.
Despite the perils and contradictions, US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen recently affirmed that there is a Biden doctrine governing US relations with China. Her speech at Johns Hopkins University’s School of Advanced International Studies in April sought to quell fears among businesses and allies who see conflicts between Washington and Beijing becoming dangerously acrimonious.
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Yellen asserted that securing the US, its allies and partners, while protecting human rights, is paramount. “The United States will never compromise on our security or principles,” she said. This was an odd message for a Treasury secretary to deliver, one that the secretary of state or defence would usually have been dispatched to do. It’s apparent she will lead rapprochement with Beijing.
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