Washington — The State of the Union address is traditionally the venue where American presidents highlight domestic successes and President Joe Biden i
Washington — The State of the Union address is traditionally the venue where American presidents highlight domestic successes, and President Joe Biden is expected to discuss his handling of the economy, reproductive rights, gun control, and immigration Thursday evening.
But as the United States deals with wars in the Middle East and Europe, foreign policy may be higher on the agenda in Biden’s fourth, and potentially final, such speech to a joint session of Congress.
The president intends to highlight his achievements in «restoring American leadership on the world stage,» John Kirby, White House national security communications adviser, told VOA during an interview on Wednesday.
American leadership, he added, gives it the ability to influence actions of world leaders and adversaries «in ways that are more in keeping with our national security interests.»
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That influence has failed to overcome stark differences between Biden and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on issues including how to deliver more humanitarian aid to the people of Gaza, the postwar role of the Palestinian Authority and the U.S. vision for a future Palestinian state.
On Ukraine, American leadership is overshadowed by House Republicans’ obstruction of a Senate-approved $95 billion foreign aid package that includes $61 billion to support Kyiv in its fight against Russia. The bill also includes $14 billion in security assistance for Israel, $9 billion in humanitarian assistance and $5 billion to support partners in the Indo-Pacific, as Washington competes against Beijing for regional influence.
The wars in Ukraine and Gaza will be prominently featured in the foreign policy portion of Biden’s speech, as will the U.S. strategic rivalry with China. Analysts say the president will employ different approaches on the two issues as he considers voters’ sentiments ahead of his bid for reelection in November.
Push for Ukraine aid
Biden will use his address to again call for the passage of the foreign aid bill and argue that it is not in America’s interest to embrace isolationism amid signs of growing Russian expansionism.
«The president is going to continue to make his case that House Republicans need to move forward. The speaker needs to put the national security supplemental on the floor,» White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said during her briefing Wednesday.
