The inauguration of the former vice president Joe Biden into the White House on 20th January will bring him so many challenges, and selecting a handful of secretaries is one of them. Biden Secretary of State will enjoy one of the most powerful positions in the Democrat’s administration. Due to the looming foreign policy challenges, Biden Secretary of State should be resilient with good leadership qualities. Who has the chance to be the Biden Secretary of State? Let’s have a look.
Susan Rice:
In the times when the Biden administration will have to face the multiple challenges of tackling the coronavirus and the nosediving economy, Susan Rice has the best chance to be the Biden Secretary of State.
This is due to the fact that Biden will be more than happy to appoint an experienced person to the chair who could see the global affairs without any external guidance. Moreover, Susan Rice is a career diplomat, having a pro-democratic approach. Her experience while serving other important assignments for the USA includes.
- Distinguished Visiting Research Fellow in the School of International Service at American University 2017-Present
- Serving as the United States National Security Advisor from July 2013 to January 2017.
- Serving as the US ambassador to the United Nations from January 2009 to June 2013.
- Senior fellow Foreign policy at Brooklyn Institution from 2002-2009.
- Managing director and principal at Intellibridge from 2001 to 2002.
- Assistant Secretary of State from October 1997 to January 2001.
Susan Rice has a history of having policy opinions that align with the platform of Democrats. Some stark differences between Biden and Rice are present, especially regarding the US approaches to Egypt and Libya; however, she always enjoyed warm relations with Joe Biden.
However, the problem will arise in the case of the Republican Senate, as Republicans have severe differences with her, mostly regarding the misinformation which Susan Rice mistakenly propagated in the Benghazi incident of 2012 regarding the murder of the US ambassador to Libya. So, the Republican Senate will probably not confirm her nomination.
William Burns:
William Burns is one of the strong contenders for Biden Secretary of State, as he has a history of backing Democratic policies on various international forums. He is a competent foreign service officer, having a proven history of working under challenging assignments as he served the United States in the following capacities.
- President of the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace 2015-Present
- Deputy Secretary of State under President Barack Obama administration from 2011-2014
- Under-Secretary for Political Affairs from 2008-2011
- US Ambassador to Russia from 2005-2008
- Assistant Secretary of State for Near-Eastern Affairs from 2001-2005
- US Ambassador to Jordan from 1998-2001
- Executive Secretary of the US State Department from January 1996-February 1998
William Burns served under three different presidents, including President Barack Obama, George W. Bush, and Bill Clinton. Considering all of these achievements, Burns can be Biden Secretary of State to serve the all-important seat at the Department of State of the United States of America.
Antony Blinken:
Insight news depicts that Antony Blinken is expected to get a key foreign policy role in the Biden administration. Some people are expecting him to be Biden Secretary of State. One of the main reasons for this claim is that he was the foreign policy advisor of the Biden presidential campaign this year, and all of the views of Biden were reflective of Antony Blinken’s opinions. The graduate of Harvard University played a key role in all important positions in the past during the Democratic governments. He served the United States of America in the following positions.
- Founded WestExec Advisors, a strategic Firm from 2017-present
- United States Deputy Secretary of State from 2015-2017
- Deputy National Security Advisor 2013-2015
- National Security Advisor to the USVice President Biden from 2009-2013
Owing to his close relations with the President-elect Biden, he can be Biden Secretary of State. He is also expected to pass the Senate test easily, compared to Susan Rice.
Chris Coons:
Senator Chris Coons is also being viewed as a potential candidate for Biden Secretary of State. Although the Delaware-based Senator does not have much experience in crafting foreign policy, many believe that introducing a new face in the Biden administration will help the United States regulate foreign affairs. He has been elected again as a Senator in the 2020 elections after defeating the Republican candidate in Delaware.
One of the reasons people support Senator Chris Coon for Biden Secretary of State’s seat is that Mr. Coons always remained vocal on the foreign policy of the United States. He is also a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.
He is also supportive of Israel, which makes him one of the strongest contenders for Biden Secretary of State, as Biden has similar views about that country. From raising a voice against Yemen’s civil war to voting in favor of the New START nuclear treaty, Coons’ views are in-line with Biden’s thoughts, making him one of the favorites for the top seat of the Department of State.
Why is the Office of Biden Secretary of State so Important?
The seat of Biden Secretary of State is going to be an important one. The foreign policy approach of Biden is in contrast to Trump’s approach, and Biden is going to take some immediate measures to repeal the actions of Trump.
For instance, after winning the 2020 presidential elections, the Biden campaign said that lifting the travel ban on some Muslim majority countries, which the Trump administration enforced, will be one of the immediate decisions which Biden will take after coming to the White House.
Similarly, Biden will also reinstate DACA and DREAMers and the Paris Climate Accord, which Trump repealed in his tenure. Not only this, but the Biden administration is also against the Yemen civil war, so a major strain in US-Saudi relations is imminent under the Biden administration.
Similarly, Biden is also expected to re-look the trade war measures, which changed the global politics in Trump’s era. All of these challenges demand a Secretary of State who could handle the inevitable crisis efficiently. This makes the seat of Secretary of State an important one.
While there are numerous contenders for the office, only the four of them mentioned above have strong chances to win the seat. Whoever comes into the office will be posed with severe responsibilities on which he/she will have to take immediate action.
Let’s hope whoever comes into the all-important office of the State Department, he/she proves to be the best not only for the United States but also for attaining peace in the contested battlegrounds of the world.
Eli is a Political Data Scientist with over thirty years of experience in Data Engineering, Analytics, and Digital Marketing. Eli uses his expertise to give the latest information and distinctive analysis on US Political News, US Foreign Affairs, Human Rights, and Racial Justice equipping readers with the inequivalent knowledge.