Post-Election Analysis 2020: Foreign Policy & Diplomacy

Key Takeaways

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• President-elect Biden will inherit an America battered by COVID-19 and its economic consequences, challenged by its adversaries, and doubted by its allies.
• The new Administration will face a series of daunting security challenges, while also having to address long term, structural changes in the world order that undermine US power and the rules-based global order. Incoming Administration officials realize they cannot simply return to a pre-Trump, US-led world.
• President-elect Biden will have to manage expectations and build support for his foreign policy by linking it to efforts to recover from the pandemic. This means a renewed focus on multilateral diplomacy and trade to promote economic growth. He will be careful not to overextend himself.