EGN NEWS DESK
The U.S. border and immigration from South and Central America
Ron Sachs/CNP/Bloomberg by way of Getty Images
Harris was assigned early through the Biden administration with addressing the “root causes” of irregular migration to the United States throughout its border with Mexico. She described these causes as corruption and lack of financial alternative in some Central and South American nations.
She has traveled to Latin America twice as vp: To Mexico and Guatemala in 2021, and to Honduras in 2022.
During a speech In Guatemala, she advised individuals within the area contemplating making an unauthorized journey throughout the border: “Do not come. Do not come. The United States will proceed to implement our legal guidelines and safe our borders.”
In Mexico, she introduced the U.S. can be investing tens of millions of {dollars} in a bid to boost employee protections and push for labor reforms there. She additionally introduced commitments to foster funding in Mexico by means of issues together with loans for inexpensive housing.
Harris additionally introduced a joint partnership with Mexico to foster financial alternatives in Honduras, Guatemala and El Salvador by means of agriculture and youth empowerment. In March, the White House introduced she had secured non-public sector commitments to speculate $5 billion in direction of the promotion of financial alternatives and the discount of violence within the area.
China, Taiwan and the South China Sea
Harris has largely carried the White House’s message on the challenges introduced by China, talking on a number of events about curbing Chinese affect.
“We know that Beijing continues to coerce, to intimidate and to make claims to the overwhelming majority of the South China Sea,” Harris mentioned in a speech throughout a seven day journey to Singapore and Vietnam in 2021.
“Beijing’s actions proceed to undermine the rules-based order and threaten the sovereignty of countries,” she mentioned. The United States stands with our allies and companions within the face of those threats.”
EVELYN HOCKSTEIN/POOL/AFP by way of Getty Images
In 2022, Harris mentioned that the U.S. would “proceed to assist Taiwan’s self protection, in step with our long-standing coverage.”
Harris’ go to to Singapore — a detailed U.S. ally that is dwelling to a key U.S. Navy base in Southeast Asia — adopted visits by Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin to Asia within the earlier weeks. The Biden administration was wanting to reassure Asian allies nervous about China’s assertive insurance policies within the area, particularly within the wake of the chaotic U.S. army withdrawal from Afghanistan.
“The motive I’m right here is as a result of the U.S. is a worldwide chief, and we take that function significantly,” mentioned Harris. She confused what she referred to as the United States’ “enduring engagement” in Asia, hitting on earlier administration speaking factors about guaranteeing an “open and free” Indo-Pacific area, and “freedom of navigation” within the South China Sea.
NATO, Europe and Russia’s warfare on Ukraine
Harris has voiced clear assist for Ukraine because it continues combating to repel Russia’s ongoing invasion, and she or he has reiterated the U.S. dedication to the transatlantic NATO alliance with America’s European companions.
Earlier this yr, she vowed the U.S. would assist Ukraine’s battle for “so long as it takes.”
At the Munich Security Conference in 2022, Harris mentioned the U.S. had “an unwavering dedication to NATO and to the Alliance.”
ANDREW HARNIK/POOL/AFP by way of Getty Images
The assembly got here as Russia massed tons of of hundreds of troops alongside Ukraine’s border, simply days earlier than it launched its full-scale invasion.
“America’s dedication to Article 5 is ironclad,” Harris mentioned in 2022, referring to the mutual protection clause within the NATO constitution that requires an assault on any member to be handled as an assault on all. “This dedication is sacrosanct to me, to President Biden and to our complete nation.”
The Israel-Hamas warfare and the broader Middle East
Harris has mentioned that she helps Israel’s proper to defend itself, but in addition that “as Israel defends itself, it issues how.”
In a briefing in December 2023, Harris mentioned that “as Israel pursues its army goals in Gaza, we consider Israel should do extra to guard harmless civilians.”
She mentioned that she and the president remained dedicated to the purpose of a two-state answer.
“When this battle ends, Hamas can’t management Gaza, and Israel have to be safe. Palestinians want a hopeful political horizon, financial alternative and freedom. And the area, extra broadly, have to be built-in and affluent. And we should — we should work towards that imaginative and prescient,” Harris mentioned.
Josh Paul, a former director on the U.S. State Department’s Bureau of Political Military Affairs, advised CBS News on Monday that Harris might look to differentiate herself not less than barely from Mr. Biden’s coverage towards Israel. Paul resigned in October over the Biden administration’s choice to proceed offering Israel with weapons because it launched army operations in Gaza.
He mentioned Harris had been “the primary and sometimes the loudest voice inside the Biden administration speaking in regards to the want for a cease-fire, speaking about Palestinian humanitarian points and, frankly, humanizing the Palestinians,” including that he believed there was “room for a point of optimism that as president, she is going to take a unique path.”
“I actually would not anticipate a Harris administration to stroll away, in any approach, from the U.S.’, you already know, ironclad assist for Israel,” he mentioned.
He added that, in his opinion, Mr. Biden has discovered it “very laborious to alter his thoughts on issues that had been, you already know, fastened inside his perceptions,” and he mentioned Harris might show “to be a extra pragmatic” chief if she will get the nation’s high job.
Emmet Lyons contributed to this report.
