Biden says that 'America is back 'and announces changes in foreign policy

This is how Biden distances himself from Trump's policies 1:43

(CNN) -

President Joe Biden said that "the United States is back" and declared that "diplomacy is back at the center" of American foreign policy, announcing that the country will end all support for offensive operations. in Yemen and will appoint an envoy to focus on the long-standing conflict, one of several changes he announced in his first major foreign policy speech since taking office.

Biden's announcement at the State Department was just one of the significant changes he said he will make in US foreign policy.

These include freezing the redeployment of troops from Germany and increasing the limit of refugees allowed in the United States.

Biden delivered his speech after making less formal comments to State Department officials.

“We are going to rebuild our alliances.

We are going to re-engage with the world and take on the enormous challenges we face in dealing with the pandemic, with global warming, and once again defend democracy and human rights around the world, "he told them.

The president, who visited the State Department on Thursday with Vice President Kamala Harris, used the speech not only to reveal political changes, fulfill campaign promises, and reverse the policies of the Trump administration, but also to reaffirm the global leadership of states. United and realign foreign policy to provide better middle class service.

"Everything" the Biden administration does on foreign policy will be scrutinized to see if it makes life "better, safer and easier for working families," National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan told reporters.

He did so in a briefing prior to the president's statements.

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End of support for offensive operations in Yemen

Biden announced the end of all US support for offensive operations in Yemen.

He also said he will appoint an envoy to focus on the long-running conflict.

Calling it "a war that has created a humanitarian and strategic catastrophe," Biden also made it clear that the United States "will continue to help and support Saudi Arabia."

Biden said Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin will lead a "global review of the position of the forces."

And that, while that review is ongoing, "it will freeze any redeployment of troops from Germany."

This ensures that "our military footprint is properly aligned with our foreign policy and national security priorities," he said.

Changes in refugee admissions

Biden also announced his intention to increase the number of refugees admitted to the United States after years of record lows under the Trump administration, two sources familiar with the plans told CNN, fulfilling a campaign promise.

The effect of Joe Biden's immigration decrees 1:55

The Trump administration set a cap of 15,000 refugees for this fiscal year, the lowest since 1980. It is unclear how much the Biden administration will increase that level.

However, the president has pledged to set an annual admission cap of 125,000.

The limit of refugees that are admitted, whatever it is, must be approved by the president.

"Moral leadership on refugee issues was a bipartisan consensus point for so many decades," Biden said.

'Restoring America's Place in the World'

Biden's visit to America's oldest cabinet agency was meant to thank a repeatedly maligned workforce during the previous administration.

His remarks focused on the theme of "restoring America's place in the world," one of his central campaign promises.

He and Harris repeatedly told diplomats gathered in the auditorium and those who watched online how much the administration values ​​their work.

"In our administration, you will be trusted and empowered to do your job," Biden said.

A few minutes earlier, Harris told the department that "this is the foundation on which we stand."

He also stated that "everything they do (...) makes a difference in the lives of ordinary Americans."

Joe Biden's challenges in international politics 2:09

The content and symbolism of Biden and Harris's appearance seek to convey unmistakable signals: that this administration values ​​diplomacy and its diplomats, will focus its foreign policy on cooperating with allies, and will work to restore its reputation as a country that leads by example. .

White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki said Wednesday that Biden's visit, which was rescheduled earlier this week due to the weather, "focuses primarily on his desire to thank the men and women who are civil servants. of the foreign service, public officials, who are the heart and soul of that institution and frankly of our Government.

"Many of them have had a challenging couple of years," he added.

Blinken's imprint

Secretary of State Antony Blinken, a longtime partner of Biden and a veteran of the department, has tried to begin his term by emphasizing the importance of the State Department's workforce, whose expertise was often shunned and viewed with suspicion by a president. who once called the agency "the Department of Deep State."

Donald Trump visited the State Department only once in his four years in office for a ceremonial event.

He repeatedly and publicly disparaged one of his most respected diplomats, Marie Yovanovitch, during the course of his first impeachment trial.

Her secretary of state, Mike Pompeo, did not defend her publicly or strongly.

This deepened the decline in morale at the State Department.

Blinken vowed to back his workforce on his first full day as secretary of state, a commitment that American diplomats said was necessary after years of being vilified.

However, they have also said that actions will speak louder than words.

And that it will take time to see exactly how the Biden administration delivers on its promises and elevates the diplomatic corps.

What are the biggest challenges facing Biden's diplomacy?

The president and his top diplomat as well as his top officials have repeatedly underscored that the most daunting challenges facing the United States, from the existential threat of climate change to the transnational threat of cyberattacks and peer competition from an increasingly aggressive China , require allies to work together.

The Government is now conducting a series of reviews of foreign policy challenges as it determines its own policy.

However, Biden has indicated that he will seek to frame his foreign policy around strengthening alliances and returning to multilateralism after Trump's "America First" era.

Biden has spoken by phone with more than half a dozen foreign counterparts since taking office.

Blinken has been working hard to communicate with its counterparts around the world.

First contact between the government of Biden with that of Colombia 1:32

A source close to both men has said they are aware there is serious repair work to be done after four years after the Trump administration left allies wary and bruised, and uncertain about how trustworthy a U.S. ally will be in the future.

"There is a real feeling among the allies: 'How long can we count on them?'" Said the source.

"We have to address that," he added.

- CNN's Kevin Liptak, Jason Hoffman and Priscilla Alvarez contributed to this report.

State Department Joe Biden Refugees Yemen