Biden's foreign policy has human rights emphasis

Significance

Separately, his administration on February 11 announced a sanctions regime to pressure the Myanmar military to reverse the recent coup. It has also instigated a return to membership of the Geneva-based UN Human Rights Council, which the former US administration left in 2018.

Impacts

• A values-based foreign policy will connect with Congress, where there is support for human rights and democracy promotion.
• Biden will exacerbate some political tensions over Israel as he increases US participation in international human rights foruns.
• Under international law, the designation of China’s treatment of Muslim Uighurs as genocide would require action from Washington.