The 46th President of the United States Joe Biden has by the stroke of pen on the very day of his inauguration started the process of changing America and its relations with the rest of the world promising to restore ‘human decency and dignity’ that everyone is entitled to. He has also promised to be the president of all Americans including those who voted against him in the last US presidential election.
The 15 executive actions, and two directives he signed, amount to an attempt to rewind the last four years of federal policies with striking speed. Only two recent presidents signed executive actions on their first day in office — and each signed just one. Biden ordered a halt to the construction of Trump’s U.S.-Mexico border wall, ended the ban on travel from some Muslim-majority countries, declared his intent to rejoin the Paris Climate Accord and the World Health Organization and revoked the approval of the Keystone XL oil pipeline, aides said, according to AP news agency.
A BBC analyst has termed these actions as the easy part. Biden’s real challenges will unfurl with the passing of days as things start zeroing in on details. A man in his late seventies and equipped with experience of his long chequered political career that includes eight years as Vice President under President Barack Obama, his greatest strength is his stand for unity of the people as against divisivity nurtured by his predecessor Donald Trump. He is looked upon not only to promote inclusive domestic politics but also inclusive international relations.
The world needs inclusive policies at this juncture as the future of the human race critically relies on its ability of reverse climate change and stand united against pandemics like Covid-19. The Sustainable Development Goals set for 2030 are designed not only to secure the planet against climate vagaries but also the future of man by ensuring that no one is left behind. Peace is needed to achieve these lofty goals. For this the world needs to be steered clear of the ‘New Cold War’ that overshadowed international relations in recent years.
Despite the emergence of the present multi-polar world, the importance of leadership of the United States has never diminished. It’s for Joe Biden to craftily work out its premier role in the midst of this diversity. This is easier said than done. But things need to be sorted out for the common future of humanity. The world order created against the background of world wars needs to be substituted by one that is fully responsive to the threats to existence of the planet and the human race. – Mostafa Kamal Majumder