"America is back. Diplomacy is back" - Biden resets U.S. foreign policy

Asserting his promised foreign policy reset, U.S. President Joe Biden on Thursday threw broadsides at Moscow, while sending a loud and clear message to the rest of the world that America's national security strategy will lead with diplomacy: "America is back. Diplomacy is back."

Speaking at the State Department, Biden said Washington will take a forceful new approach toward Russian misdeeds.

"I made it clear to President Putin, in a manner very different from my predecessor, that the days of the United States rolling over in the face of Russia's aggressive actions -- interfering with our elections, cyberattacks, poisoning its citizens -- are over."

"We will not hesitate to raise the cost on Russia and defend our vital interests and our people.  And we will be more effective in dealing with Russia when we work in coalition and coordination with other like-minded partners," he said.

For Biden, the politically motivated jailing of Alexei Navalny and the Russian efforts to suppress freedom of expression and peaceful assembly are a matter of deep concern "to us and the international community."

"Mr. Navalny, like all Russian citizens, is entitled to his rights under the Russian constitution.  He's been targeted -- targeted for exposing corruption.  He should be released immediately and without condition," he added.

Biden also pledged to 'take on directly the challenges posed [to] our prosperity, security and democratic values' raised by China, describing it as the "most serious competitor" to the United States,

He vowed to confront Beijing on various fronts, including human rights, intellectual property and economic policy

"But we are ready to work with Beijing when it's in America's interest to do so. We will compete from a position of strength by building back better at home, working with our allies and partners, renewing our role in international institutions, and reclaiming our credibility and moral authority, much of which has been lost."

Biden's remarks were not the totality of his foreign policy, they rather focused on his early decisions and actions, according to White House officials.

In his first major foreign policy speech as president, Biden notably made no mention of Iran.

Also absent was any mention of Turkey.

Alex Raufoglu

Washington D.C.