In a recent letter addressed to Congress, President Joe Biden outlined his administration’s approach to preventing conflict and promoting stability around the globe. As tensions continue to flare in several regions, the Biden administration is committed to prioritizing diplomacy and multilateral cooperation to mitigate the risk of violence and foster peaceful resolutions. Through a comprehensive strategy that emphasizes prevention, early warning, and effective response, the United States aims to address the root causes of conflict, reduce the suffering of vulnerable populations, and promote lasting peace and stability. In this article, we’ll examine the key elements of President Biden’s letter and the implications of the U.S. strategy for global security and cooperation.
In today’s world, instability in any part of the world can have global repercussions. The security and economic prosperity of Americans are interconnected with people worldwide. With violence and deprivation driving a record number of people from their homes, no nation can wall itself off from shared challenges that are shaping our world. The rapid spread of the COVID-19 pandemic and the accelerating impacts of the climate crisis are examples of such shared challenges that affect nations worldwide.
However, nations that are hit the hardest often have the fewest resources to recover. American leadership and commitment are critical to rallying the world to respond in times of crisis and to mitigate the impacts on communities worldwide. To prevent conflicts before they occur, the United States must address the urgent demands of today and make investments now that will deliver a more peaceful tomorrow worldwide.
In 2019, Congress passed the Global Fragility Act with strong bipartisan support. The act aims to mitigate underlying vulnerabilities that can lead to conflict and violence, making strategic investments in prevention to build the political and economic resilience of partner societies. Last year, the Biden administration announced its priority partner countries and an updated vision to implement the US Strategy to Prevent Conflict and Promote Stability in line with the goals of the Global Fragility Act. Today, the administration submitted to Congress the ten-year plans for implementing the strategy working together with priority partners: Haiti, Libya, Mozambique, Papua New Guinea, and Coastal West Africa.
These plans represent a meaningful, long-term commitment by the United States to building the political and economic resilience of partner societies. They are a statement of American values, advocating for the upholding of human rights, strengthening democracy and good governance, amplifying unsung work of prevention and capacity building, and elevating diverse voices. The plans emphasize collaboration and coordination across the US government, local, and international partners, leveraging the full range of diplomatic, development, and defense toolkit, and are tailored to the unique challenges and opportunities of each country and region.
These investments in peace and prosperity will not only deliver returns for the priority partner nations in the decades ahead, but they will also foster greater success and security for nations worldwide and help advance progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals. While the Biden administration works to translate these plans from roadmaps into results, they look forward to working closely with Congress and with civil society stakeholders who are driving this effort at all levels.
The choices we make today will determine the shape of the world for generations to come. By bringing together long-term planning, locally-owned solutions, and vital American leadership now, the Biden administration believes they will create a more peaceful and prosperous future for everyone. Therefore, the administration’s focus is on preventing conflicts before they occur, addressing the urgent demands of today, and making investments that will deliver a more peaceful tomorrow worldwide.
