Janice R. Andrews
During foreign policy problems, Vice President Kamala Harris has always stood by President Joe Biden and not publicly questioned his choices. Her involvement in important events, such as the U.S. pulling out of Afghanistan and continuing to help Ukraine, shows that she agrees with the president, even though some stories say she has personal concerns about some activities.
Harris’s role in the choice about Afghanistan was noteworthy. Philip H. Gordon, Harris’s national security advisor, told her not to pull all the troops out because of what might happen, but Harris eventually backed Biden’s plan. The Washington Post and The Wall Street Journal say that Gordon suggested leaving a reserve force in Afghanistan to keep things stable, but Harris and Biden decided not to go with that plan. Even though she had her own doubts, she spoke out in support, telling CNN that she was “the last person in the room” when Biden made the choice and was sure about it.
Compared to his time as vice president, this consistent support for Biden is very interesting. Biden often questioned foreign policy choices made by Barack Obama. He publicly spoke out against the raid that killed Osama bin Laden and against keeping troops in Afghanistan for too long. Harris, on the other hand, seems to be more respectful of Biden’s long time service on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.
Regarding Ukraine, Harris has always agreed with Biden’s plans, even though the US has given more than $175 billion to the country. In Ukraine’s fight against Russia, the vice president has backed giving the country weapons and money. Reports say that Harris isn’t sure if she wants to let Ukraine use long-range missile attacks against Russia, even though Biden is thinking about doing so. Russian President Vladimir Putin said that the U.S. would be “at war with Russia” if they let Ukraine use these weapons, which made it even harder to make a choice.
When it comes to foreign policy, Harris has also stood by Biden on the Israeli-Palestinian dispute. Harris has spoken out in support of Israel’s right to self-defence, even though she is worried about the deaths of civilians in Gaza. Many think she feels more for the Palestinians than Biden does, but she has been careful to keep the administration’s pro-Israel position. In a visit to the Democratic National Committee, Harris talked about Israel’s safety and the need to lower the number of innocent deaths.
Harris’s careful approach to foreign policy comes from her desire to keep nonpartisan practices alive. Analysts, such as David Ignatius, a columnist for the Washington Post, say that Harris will probably stay on this cautious road, even if he has to deal with the problems that would come with former President Donald Trump’s possible comeback. During a recent debate, Trump offered to talk to Russia and Ukraine about ending the war quickly. This is very different from how the Biden-Harris administration helped Ukraine for a long time. Also, Trump wants to start a campaign of maximum pressure on Iran again. This is another sign that he wants to change U.S. foreign policy if he wins again.
In an interview with CNN in 2021, Harris talked about her relationship with Biden and said that they talk about important choices together. He will ask me what I think about things, and I will ask him what I think about them. I think that’s how we get to a good place,” Harris said, stressing that Biden makes the final choice but that she is valued in the process.
In the end, Kamala Harris’s approach to foreign policy is marked by careful support for Biden’s choices, along with hints of her own worries. Whether it’s about Afghanistan, Ukraine, or Israel, Harris has been a faithful vice president who has handled emergencies by balancing her own views with those of the president.
