Biden will face major US overseas policy challenges

Significance

Biden will have to address immediate major foreign policy challenges: stabilising relations with adversaries (Iran, Russia and China), renewing ties with allies, and returning the United States to multilateralism at a time when the country faces domestic political, economic and health-related strains.

Impacts

• China and North Korea will test Biden early, Beijing likely with an Asian naval skirmish and Pyongyang a missile launch.
• Congress Republicans will clash with Biden on China policy, particularly if they hold the Senate, painting Democrats as ‘soft’.
• Republicans will push for stronger political relations and larger arms packages with Taiwan.
• The EU-China Investment Agreement could hinder negotiation of US trade agreements with China and the EU.
• Foreign aid programmes will likely suffer, especially if they must compete with COVID-19 fiscal relief packages.