The scenario of a return to international affairs of the United States is defended by part of the ” blob “, To use the dismissive phrase used by one of Barack Obama’s advisers, Ben Rhodes. The latter had used this term designating a shapeless and viscous substance to qualify the microcosm which brings together, in Washington, the members of the circles of reflection which populate the administrations according to their color. This “blob” hopes to take revenge after the Trump presidency, which has held it on the edge of power, at the cost of a deep and lasting disorganization of the American administration, deprived of its best practitioners.
The site Foreign Policy recounted, in July, the mobilization of this “blob”, assuring that 2,000 experts were already working on the foundations of a foreign policy of Biden in the event of victory of the latter to the presidency. Famous figures embody this diplomatic course, such as Antony Blinken, Julie Smith, Brian McKeon, Avril Haines or Jake Sullivan. Most of these experts worked with the former vice president on security and foreign policy issues during Barack Obama’s two terms (2009-2017). To these are added the seasoned Tom Donilon, Susan Rice and the co-founders of the Center for a New American Security, Michèle Flournoy and Kurt Campbell. All of them held senior positions in the previous Democratic administration in matters of intelligence, diplomacy or defense.
Appease the administration
If he keeps his promise to be a smuggler for a new generation, Joe Biden could nominate a former rival in the Democratic nomination contest, Pete Buttigieg, not yet in his forties, to the State Department. Or turn to the pool of the Senate and figures like Chris Murphy (Connecticut) or Chris Coons (Delaware), both members of the Foreign Affairs Committee.
Joe Biden, who has been campaigning since the start of his campaign for a peaceful administration, respectful of differences but concerned with skills, undoubtedly has a possibility of opening up towards the Republicans in foreign policy. This area is more conducive to bipartisan initiatives than US domestic issues. A bipartisan front was also manifested during Donald Trump’s tenure on the relationship with Russia and Saudi Arabia, to oppose the president’s leniency towards a country considered an adversary. , and another little concerned about the consequences of the war in Yemen or the impact created by the assassination and macabre disappearance, in 2018, of dissident journalist Jamal Khashoggi.
