A take a look at Kamala Harris’ work on overseas coverage as vice chairman

After President Biden introduced he wouldn’t be operating for reelection, he endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris as his decide to turn into the Democratic nominee. Here is a take a look at a few of Harris’ work on overseas coverage over the past three and a half years:

The U.S. border and immigration from South and Central America 

Harris was assigned early through the Biden administration with addressing the “root causes” of irregular migration to the USA throughout its border with Mexico. She described these causes as corruption and lack of financial alternative in some Central and South American nations.

She has traveled to Latin America twice as vice chairman: To Mexico and Guatemala in 2021, and to Honduras in 2022.

Throughout a speech In Guatemala, she advised individuals within the area contemplating making an unauthorized journey throughout the border: “Don’t come. Don’t come. The US will proceed to implement our legal guidelines and safe our borders.”

In Mexico, she introduced the U.S. can be investing thousands and thousands of {dollars} in a bid to boost employee protections and push for labor reforms there. She additionally introduced commitments to foster funding in Mexico by way of issues together with loans for inexpensive housing.

Harris additionally introduced a joint partnership with Mexico to foster financial alternatives in Honduras, Guatemala and El Salvador by way of agriculture and youth empowerment. In March, the White Home introduced she had secured personal sector commitments to take a position $5 billion in direction of the promotion of financial alternatives and the discount of violence within the area.

China, Taiwan and the South China Sea

Harris has largely carried the White Home’s message on the challenges offered by China, talking on a number of events about curbing Chinese language affect.

“We all know that Beijing continues to coerce, to intimidate and to make claims to the overwhelming majority of the South China Sea,” Harris mentioned in a speech throughout a seven day journey to Singapore and Vietnam in 2021.

“Beijing’s actions proceed to undermine the rules-based order and threaten the sovereignty of countries,” she mentioned. The US stands with our allies and companions within the face of those threats.”

In 2022, Harris mentioned that the U.S. would “proceed to assist Taiwan’s self protection, per our long-standing coverage.”

Harris’ go to to Singapore — an in depth U.S. ally that is residence to a key U.S. Navy base in Southeast Asia — adopted visits by Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Secretary of Protection Lloyd Austin to Asia within the earlier weeks. The Biden administration was desperate to reassure Asian allies nervous about China’s assertive insurance policies within the area, particularly within the wake of the chaotic U.S. navy withdrawal from Afghanistan.

“The rationale I’m right here is as a result of the U.S. is a world chief, and we take that function severely,” mentioned Harris. She careworn what she known as the USA’ “enduring engagement” in Asia, hitting on earlier administration speaking factors about making certain an “open and free” Indo-Pacific area, and “freedom of navigation” within the South China Sea.

NATO, Europe and Russia’s battle on Ukraine

Harris has voiced clear assist for Ukraine because it continues preventing to repel Russia’s ongoing invasion, and she or he has reiterated the U.S. dedication to the transatlantic NATO alliance with America’s European companions.

Earlier this yr, she vowed the U.S. would assist Ukraine’s combat for “so long as it takes.”

On the Munich Safety Convention in 2022, Harris mentioned the U.S. had “an unwavering dedication to NATO and to the Alliance.”

The assembly got here as Russia massed lots of of 1000’s of troops alongside Ukraine’s border, simply days earlier than it launched its full-scale invasion.

“America’s dedication to Article 5 is ironclad,” Harris mentioned in 2022, referring to the mutual protection clause within the NATO constitution that requires an assault on any member to be handled as an assault on all. “This dedication is sacrosanct to me, to President Biden and to our total nation.”

The Israel-Hamas battle and the broader Center East

Harris has mentioned that she helps Israel’s proper to defend itself, but additionally that “as Israel defends itself, it issues how.”

In a briefing in December 2023, Harris mentioned that “as Israel pursues its navy goals in Gaza, we consider Israel should do extra to guard harmless civilians.”

She mentioned that she and the president remained dedicated to the aim of a two-state answer.

“When this battle ends, Hamas can not management Gaza, and Israel should be safe. Palestinians want a hopeful political horizon, financial alternative and freedom. And the area, extra broadly, should be built-in and affluent. And we should — we should work towards that imaginative and prescient,” Harris mentioned.

Josh Paul, a former director on the U.S. State Division’s Bureau of Political Army Affairs, advised CBS Information on Monday that Harris might look to differentiate herself no less than barely from Mr. Biden’s coverage towards Israel. Paul resigned in October over the Biden administration’s resolution to proceed offering Israel with weapons because it launched navy operations in Gaza.

He mentioned Harris had been “the primary and infrequently the loudest voice throughout the Biden administration speaking concerning the want for a cease-fire, speaking about Palestinian humanitarian points and, frankly, humanizing the Palestinians,” including that he believed there was “room for some extent of optimism that as president, she’s going to take a distinct path.”

“I actually would not count on a Harris administration to stroll away, in any approach, from the U.S.’, you understand, ironclad assist for Israel,” he mentioned. 

He added that, in his opinion, Mr. Biden has discovered it “very onerous to vary his thoughts on issues that had been, you understand, mounted inside his perceptions,” and he mentioned Harris might show “to be a extra pragmatic” chief if she will get the nation’s prime job. 

Emmet Lyons contributed to this report.