The Daily Update: Biden's To Do List

‘Who will be the first foreign leader that the new president calls?’ is the question many ask when the US swears in a new leader of the free world. Well, the new White House press secretary Jen Psaki yesterday told reporters that President Joe Biden’s first world leader call would be to Canada’s Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. One of the main talking points will be Biden’s decision to revoke the permit granted for the controversial Keystone XL pipeline. The USD8bn pipeline that would have carried oil sands crude from Alberta, Canada, to the American Gulf Coast. The press secretary added that Biden is likely to prioritize speaking with U.S. allies. Expect headlines in the UK papers in the coming days as to which European leaders get called first and the ‘special relationship’.

Biden started his presidency by signing a flurry of executive orders on issues across the board, including Covid-19, immigration, ethics, and the environment. Some of the executive actions undo significant actions from the Trump administration, such as halting the travel ban from Muslim-majority countries and stopping the declaration of a national emergency used to justify funding construction of a wall on the US-Mexico border.

Leaders from around the world sent messages of congratulations to President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris after their inauguration, (most via social media of course) as well as taking a swipe at the outgoing administration. Boris Johnson tweeted ‘America’s leadership is vital on the issues that matter to us all, from climate change to COVID, and I look forward to working with President Biden’. Chancellor Merkel described Biden’s and Harris’ inauguration as ‘a true celebration of American democracy’. The president of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, also mentioned the U.S. re-joining the Paris Agreement. She said that the move will be ‘a very strong starting point for our renewed cooperation’.

Javad Zarif, Iran’s Foreign Minister, took a slightly different tone. He tweeted ‘Trump, Pompeo & Co. are relegated to the dustbin of history in disgrace. But the memories of Gen Soleimani & the 1000s murdered, maimed & starved of food & meds by Trump's state—& economic—terrorism & crimes against humanity, will shine on. Perhaps new folks in DC have learned’.