Biden has to wait until the weekend for State Department pick



[ad_1]

President Biden’s promise to bring the United States back to the world stage is delayed – at least by a few days – in the Senate, where his candidate for secretary of state, Antony blinkAntony BlinkenState Dept. to review the Trump administration’s decision to label the Houthis as a terrorist organization Overnight Defense: Austin takes the helm of the Pentagon | COVID-19 Briefing Part of Day 1 Agenda | Outrage over images of National Guard soldiers in parking lot Senate confirms Austin will lead Pentagon under Biden MORE, is in limbo of confirmation.

Some Senate Democrats have criticized the delay, arguing that the Senate should have already voted on its confirmation.

“The Secretary of State is the fourth in the line of succession. Leaving this position vacant is irresponsible, ”said the senator. Robert MenendezRobert (Bob) MenendezSenate presses Biden’s choice for Secretary of State over Iran, China, Russia and Yemen End-of-year deal creates Latin American, women’s history museums Lawmakers call to include creation of Latin American and women’s history museums in year-end spending deal MORE (DN.J.), the new chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, said in a speech Thursday.

On Friday, the White House appeared to play down the delay while thanking the Senate for confirming Biden’s choice for the Pentagon.

“I know our Secretary of State is about to be confirmed, at least Sen. [Mitch] McConnell [R-Ky.] tells us, ”White House spokesman Jen psakiJen PsakiBiden under pressure to deliver more COVID-19 shots Biden, Trudeau agrees to meet next month Democrats seek answers on Russian cyberattack impact on Justice Department and courts MORE said.

The past few weeks have been chaotic in the Senate, where power shifted on Wednesday when three new Democratic senators were sworn in – including the two who won the second round of elections in Georgia earlier this month – with the vice president Harris.

Harris will cast the deciding vote in the Senate 50-50, giving Democrats the majority.

But Democrats and Republicans have not agreed on the rules for the organization of the Senate, which means Republicans still have majorities on some committees.

Battles during the election also contributed to a slow pace of nominations.

The Senate confirmed Biden’s choice as director of national intelligence, April HainesAvril HainesBiden DHS, Intel chooses need for stress to prioritize cybersecurity after SolarWinds hacked Biden, Intel Chief Candidate Avril Haines promises public report on QAnon threat The former chief intelligence officer of Trump, Coats, introduces Biden candidate Haines on hearing MORE, Thursday. On Friday he confirmed the Secretary of Defense Lloyd AustinLloyd AustinTrump impeachment trial to begin week of February 8 Trump’s DHS chief pleads for swift confirmation of Biden’s choice amid Hawley Hold Overnight Defense: Austin takes over Pentagon helm | COVID-19 briefing as part of the agenda for Day 1 | Outrage at footage of National Guard troops in a garage MORE.

Blinken could be confirmed early next week, and Sen. James Risch (R-Idaho) has said there should be strong bipartisan interest in confirming it.

Monday is the earliest a confirmation vote can take place, according to a Republican Senate aide, who said Risch was working to get unanimous consent from members of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee to allow the vote of confirmation.

If unanimous consent is not reached, the full committee would vote Monday night on whether to send Blinken’s confirmation to the Senate for a vote.

Another reason Blinken’s appointment has been delayed is that committee members are working to revise his answers to at least 780 questions submitted by lawmakers. Blinken also participated in a nearly five-hour hearing on Tuesday.

In comparison, 550 written questions were submitted to former President TrumpDonald Trump McCarthy says he told Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene he did not agree with his articles of impeachment against Biden Biden, Trudeau agreed to meet next month Trump was planning to oust acting AG to overturn Georgia election results: PLUS reportthe last secretary of state, Mike PompeoMike Pompeo State Dept. To review Trump administration decision to label Houthis as terrorist organization VOA reinstates White House reporter reassigned after questioning Pompeo Jilani: China ‘sends clear message’ to officials of Biden with sanctions that opposition could lead to ‘future pay cut’ MORE. Trump’s first candidate, Rex TillersonRex Wayne Tillerson Tillerson: ‘We wasted the best opportunity we had on North Korea’ State Department creates new office for cybersecurity and emerging technologies Lawmakers express concern over lack of young people in the federal workforce, received 715.

Secretaries of State John KerryJohn Kerry Deal Paris: Biden’s Chance to Restore International Reputation Kerry promises Europeans Biden will seek to catch up on climate action OVER NIGHT ENERGY: Biden renews US to Paris agreement on Climate Biden Cancels Keystone XL License, Ends Arctic Shelter Rental | Home Secretary cancels nature protection order before stepping down READ MORE and Hillary ClintonHillary Diane Rodham Clinton Texas Supreme Court dismisses Alex Jones ‘request to dismiss parents’ lawsuits from Sandy Hook Paris Agreement: Biden’s Chance to Restore International Reputation Samantha Power’s Herculean Task: Turning a Screw with a rubber screwdriver PLUS, who both served in the Obama administration, were asked 291 and 498 questions, respectively.

The Republican assistant defended the number of questions.

“The president doesn’t like to ask questions just for the sake of asking questions, they were all substantive, at least the questions we submitted,” the aide said.

The aide added that the committee was set to move Blinken’s nomination forward faster than Tillerson’s. He was confirmed almost three weeks after his marathon hearing before the committee.

“Risch supports unprecedented actions, including one [unanimous consent] agreement that would bypass the regular order of the committee, ”Blinken’s confirmation Republican aide said.

In the absence of a senior secretary, the State Department is headed by the director of the Foreign Service Institute Daniel Smith.

James Dobbins, a senior researcher at RAND Corporation and who served as Deputy Secretary of State for Europe, said the delay in Blinken’s confirmation vote was not “ extraordinary at this point, but s ‘it persisted for a few more days, it would become unusual. ”

“The Secretary of State is the face of American diplomacy and the person to whom diplomacy officials in other countries turn,” he said.

“I think it delays the normalization of relations between the United States and its allies. It can also delay treatment, probably not of the most urgent issues, but also urgent issues with opponents and other countries, ”he added.

Foreign diplomats are eager to engage with Blinken, the Biden administration and their senior officials, after months of a strict no-contact policy between the transition team and foreign governments.

“Obviously there is a bit of excitement in the capitals, and people want to talk to people, and that delays that even further,” said one European diplomat, who asked to remain anonymous to speak frankly.

“That’s what it is – it’s only a few more days, after a few months without being able to dialogue with the president of the United States team.”

Although his full team is not in place, Biden continues to sign a stack of executive orders that include the cancellation of the Trump administration’s foreign policy actions.

This includes a return to the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Paris Climate Agreement, measures hailed by US allies.

“WHO is a family of nations and we are all happy that the United States remains in the family,” Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director General of the World Health Organization said during the first meeting with Anthony FauciAnthony FauciNight Health Care – Fauci: Lack of Facts ‘Likely’ Killed Coronavirus Fight | CDC Changes COVID-19 Vaccine Guidelines to Allow Rare Mix of Pfizer and Moderna | Senate chaos threatens to slow agenda for Biden Fauci exasperated by threats to family Poll: plurality of voters say coronavirus vaccine rollout slower than expected MORE, Biden’s envoy to the WHO.

Biden is counting on his National Security Council to engage with his close American allies on pressing issues related to Russia, North Korea, Iran and China.

Jake sullivanJake SullivanWhite House: It will take ‘a little while’ before Biden’s first overseas trip Biden’s national security adviser hosts introductory calls with his foreign counterparts Biden for border wall nix, ‘ban Muslim ” on the first day of her mandate PLUS, Biden’s national security adviser, held separate introductory calls with senior national security officials from France, Germany and the UK to discuss issues related to China, Iran and to Russia.

Sullivan also held a call with the secretary general of the Japan National Security Secretariat. Their conversation focused on the challenges of COVID-19, China, and North Korea.

One of the most urgent issues Blinken is expected to address if confirmed is working with Congress to extend the new START nuclear treaty with Russia. It expires on February 5.

The treaty places limits on each country’s nuclear weapon arsenal and allows inspections from both sides to verify compliance.

White House spokesman Jen Psaki told reporters on Thursday that the president wanted to extend the treaty for five years, an announcement Russia welcomed.

Blinken, during his confirmation hearing, noted the treaty as one of the first agendas he would come to the Senate to work on on the extension.

“What I can tell you is that I know that we will come to you very quickly, almost immediately to discuss this,” he said.



[ad_2]

Source link