Joe Biden is actually pretty cosmopolitan. His ancestors come from Ireland, his favorite philosopher is the Dane Søren Kierkegaard, and with him and his wife Jill the two “German Shepherds” Champ and Major moved into the White House. But that seems to be enough internationalism for the new US president. His recent government activities are less tied to his declared multilateral ambitions than to the policies of his predecessor: America First.
–
On Monday – shortly after the first phone call with Chancellor Angela Merkel – Biden signed a decree, whose title “America” appears four times: The “Buy American” order is intended to ensure that America’s workers get through the future of the country ›made in America‹ schmieden. The Trump administration accused Biden of not applying the laws to protect domestic industries hard enough and thus supporting foreign jobs with billions in taxpayers’ money. Far too often, government agencies in Washington – especially the Department of Defense – have placed orders with foreign companies. That will now change under his leadership.
–
