The New Biden Administration: A Lowy Institute Collection

On this page, we have curated the best publications, conversations and event recordings to help you understand the foreign policy implications of Joe Biden's presidency. Below, you will find research by world-leading authorities on US foreign policy, as well as opinion pieces and media commentary by Lowy Institute experts. And you will hear from the senior advisers who are likely to make up Joe Biden’s foreign policy team, many of whom have either visited Australia as Lowy Institute Distinguished International Fellows or have featured as guests on Lowy Institute podcasts and webcasts.

You can watch, listen and read below.

WATCH

20 July 2016: Joe Biden, Vice President of the United States, addresses the Lowy Institute

At Paddington Town Hall, United States Vice President Joe Biden addressed the Lowy Institute and the United States Studies Centre on the Australia-US relationship.

28 August 2020: In conversation with Ambassador Samantha Power

Samantha Power is one of America’s leading foreign policy voices, both as a scholar and a Cabinet member in the Obama administration. Topics in this conversation include US foreign policy under President Donald Trump, Vice President Joe Biden’s worldview, the global implications of the coronavirus pandemic and the future of the US-China relationship.

11 June 2020: In conversation with Kurt Campbell and Michèle Flournoy

Michèle Flournoy served as Under Secretary of Defense for Policy in the Obama administration, and is considered a likely Biden Administration nominee for the position of Defense Secretary. Kurt Campbell served as Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs in the Obama administration, where he is widely credited as a key architect of the “pivot to Asia”.  

13 June 2017: Jake Sullivan on US strategy in the Asia Pacific

An address from Vice President Joe Biden's National Security Adviser, Jake Sullivan, about a rising China, a belligerent North Korea, an unruly ASEAN, and many other challenges facing the US in the Asia-Pacific. Sullivan is considered likely to fill a senior national security position in the Biden Administration.

LISTEN

From September 2020, Joe Biden's senior policy adviser Jake Sullivan on Russia, China, climate diplomacy and Australia

From October 2019, Ambassador Nicholas Burns on the China challenge. Burns is considered likely to serve in a senior diplomatic role in the Biden administration.

From October 2019, Ambassador Nicholas Burns on restoring American leadership

From November 2013, Dr Kurt Campbell on the future of US foreign policy in the Asia-Pacific region

From October 2020, Ambassador Nicholas Burns on diplomacy, presidents and American power

READ

THOMAS WRIGHT, LOWY INSTITUTE ANALYSIS
The Point of No Return: The 2020 Election and the Crisis of American Foreign Policy

The definitive analysis of the competing foreign policy visions of Donald Trump and Joe Biden, by the Brookings Institution’s Thomas Wright. Read more

MICHAEL FULLILOVE, SYDNEY MORNING HERALD
Australia will benefit if American craziness subsides

In most US presidential election years – say, for the Clinton-Bush race in 1992, Bush-Gore in 2000, or Obama-Romney in 2012 – a respectable debate can be had as to which candidate tracks more closely with Australia’s interests. 2020 is not such a year. Read more

DANIEL FLITTON, THE INTERPRETER
Joe Biden: Big questions and great expectations

Will the world be receptive to a US attempt to reassert global leadership after the crassness of Trump’s America First? Read more

IONA MAIN, THE INTERPRETER
Kamala Harris: Where does Australia feature in her worldview?

What we know about Joe Biden’s running mate is she presents as a centrist internationalist. And she could be president. Read more

JOHN KEHOE, AUSTRALIAN FINANCIAL REVIEW
Australia has friends in Biden’s inner sanctum

Scott Morrison does not personally know Joe Biden, but Australia will have close friends in the 46th president’s inner sanctum. Article includes comments from Lowy Institute Executive Director Michael Fullilove. Read more

ANTHONY GALLOWAY, SYDNEY MORNING HERALD
Morrison has links into Biden inner circle, but wants to wait for result

Senior Australian officials will look to pick up where they left off with key advisers of the expected next president of the United States, Joe Biden. Article includes comments from Lowy Institute Executive Director Michael Fullilove. Read more

JOHN KEHOE, AUSTRALIAN FINANCIAL REVIEW
Biden adviser calls on Australia to “blunt” China

US presidential candidate Joe Biden’s foreign policy adviser has backed Australia blocking Chinese business acquisitions and called on the Morrison government to increase defence spending to help limit China's rise. Article includes comments from Lowy Institute China expert Richard McGregor. Read more

ELY RATNER, THE INTERPRETER
The false choice of war or accommodation in the South China Sea

This 2017 article is by Ely Ratner, now Assistant Secretary of Defense for Indo-Pacific Security Affairs in the Biden Administration. The Interpreter hosted a debate between Ratner and Professor Hugh White, Australia’s most prominent strategic commentator, about US resolve in the face of China’s growing strength. Read more

HUGH WHITE, THE INTERPRETER
What the US would need to deter China

The Interpreter hosted a debate between Ratner and Professor Hugh White, Australia’s most prominent strategic commentator, about US resolve in the face of China’s growing strength. Read more

Cover Photo: Adam Schultz / Biden for President / Flickr