The new US President Biden has spoken with Russian President Putin for the first time. In a telephone conversation the world leaders exchanged ideas about extending the expiring treaty on the limitation of nuclear weapons.
Both Putin and Biden are confident that the treaty will be renewed. After the interview, the Kremlin expressed the hope that relations between the countries would improve.
Biden also expressed concern to Putin about the capture of Russian opposition leader Navalny, according to the White House.
Shine new minister
On the same day that Biden and Putin spoke, the US Senate approved the appointment of Antony Blinken as Secretary of State. Blinken, an experienced diplomat, received 78 votes to the 100-seat Senate. The 22 votes against were all Republicans.
Blinken, who succeeds Mike Pompeo, is given the highest ministerial post in Biden’s cabinet. The Secretary of State is the fourth in line of succession to the President and thus the Prime Minister eligible to replace the President.
58-year-old Blinken already worked intensively with Biden when he held high positions in the governments of President Obama, in which Biden was vice president. He was, among other things, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs. Blinken served in lower posts in President Clinton’s administration.
‘US must lead again’
Before the Senate committee that questioned him last week, Blinken said he wants to put the US back on a leading role on the world stage. “If we don’t lead, two things can happen. Either another country takes over our place and doesn’t act according to our values and in our interest.
He wants to improve diplomatic relations with friendly countries that were under pressure under President Trump. But in other respects, he wants to continue the policy of the previous president, for example by further normalizing the relationship between Israel and the Arab world through mediation. And Blinken also opts for a strict attitude towards China.
Biden is for two-state solution
Meanwhile, almost simultaneously with Blinken’s approval, the White House announced that, according to President Biden, a two-state solution is “the only way forward” in the conflict between Israel and the Palestinians.
In addition, the US will once again provide aid to Palestinian refugees and strengthen ties with the Palestinian authorities, thus reversing Trump’s policy.
He also did this with a number of decrees that he signed shortly afterwards. For example, Biden decided not to renew contracts with privately run prisons, where prisoners live in poor conditions. He also signed decrees against discrimination in the American housing market, among others.
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