Vice President Kamala Harris is carving a niche in foreign policy with the help and encouragement of the president.
When compared to Biden’s decades of experience in foreign policy, Harris’s career of domestic issues has Biden pushing to bulk up her experience with foreign leaders, and develop her own rapport with key U.S. partners.
Starting the day after inauguration, Harris called the director-general of the World Health Organization to discuss the U.S. role in the global Covid-19 response.
Since then, Harris has stepped up.
- She held solo calls with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and French President Emmanuel Macron.
- Gave a speech at the State Department.
- On Tuesday participated in the first bilateral meeting of the new administration between the U.S. and Canada—an opportunity Biden himself was not afforded when he was vice president.
- Had weekly lunches with Secretary of State Antony Blinken.
It’s what the administration would say is proof of the equal partnership between the two, with Biden willing to bring Harris onto turf he is both known for and familiar with. Others say it’s more strategic: developing her own foreign policy credentials and being seen as Biden’s partner on these issues will give her an edge heading into 2024 or 2028.
World leaders appear eager to build relationships with Harris, as many see her as a potential president in waiting.
More at Politico.