Source: United States Senator for Delaware Christopher Coons
WASHINGTON – In case you missed it, U.S. Senator Chris Coons (D-Del.) published an op-ed in Foreign Policy yesterday that highlights the progress President Biden and congressional Democrats and Republicans have achieved on a wide range of issues, including strengthening international justice and addressing threats to democracy. The notable bipartisanship in U.S. foreign policy includes support for U.S. engagement with NATO, assistance for Ukraine, and efforts to outcompete and counter China. In the op-ed, Senator Coons recognizes the global threats the U.S. faces and calls on Congress and the administration to continue working together to protect the American people and national interests.
Foreign Policy: Why I Have Hope for Bipartisan Progress on U.S. Foreign Policy
Last month, Americans were shown two sharply contrasting images of their potential political future in 2023: Days of chaos in the House of Representatives brought on by a hard-right fringe attempting to undermine Kevin McCarthy’s bid to be speaker, juxtaposed with the image of U.S. President Joe Biden and Republican Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell celebrating bipartisan infrastructure investments to rebuild a critical bridge connecting Kentucky and Ohio. …
[M]ost congressional Republicans and Democrats agree on the key national security challenges our country faces, and there’s a real chance to make bipartisan progress. …
To start, Biden has sustained and strengthened several foreign-policy successes initiated by the Trump administration: the Abraham Accords, tough trade controls on China, increased investments by our NATO allies in our mutual security, and the launch of the U.S. International Development Finance Corporation (DFC) to better leverage the private sector in development finance. Overall, these efforts undertaken by both the Trump and Biden administrations help lay the foundation for cooperation in a few key areas.
No event has had more impact than Russia’s brutal invasion of Ukraine nearly a year ago, which has reshaped U.S. engagement with NATO and other allies worldwide. With bipartisan support in Congress, Biden mobilized our allies to join in historic sanctions on Russia, increase their own defense spending, and deliver substantial amounts of aid to Ukraine. NATO is on the verge of admitting two new, strong partners. …
I’m not naive about the many deep disagreements between Democrats and Republicans. The next two years will be difficult, but we don’t need to agree on everything to make progress on the things we do agree on. Thanks to Biden and congressional Democrats, working in tandem with Republicans such as McConnell, Americans have been able to present a united front on the most critical global issues facing our country. There’s no reason that can’t continue in this new Congress. We can support Ukraine, counter China, and assist the developing world – together.
The full op-ed is available here.
Senator Coons is the Chair of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on State and Foreign Operations (SFOPS) and a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.
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