A few times, Biden took on the Republicans – needling them on cuts on social security, and Medicare being on their bucket-list (which was vociferously denied as being on the table). But, otherwise, he reminded them of the benefits of bipartisanship – ‘finish the job’ of rebuilding the economy together. If, indeed, the president was pitching Biden First, it was also America First.
In a setting that had shades of the Indian Parliament in its fair share of heckling, Biden made it clear that revitalising US manufacturing and industry will be the cornerstone of the transition to a low-carbon economy – not the other way around.
Mustering up his inner-Trump, he stated that the US would work with China, but if it ‘threatens our sovereignty, we will act to protect our country’. As far as a stump speech goes, that was about doing more than shooting surveillance balloons down.
On the whole, an appeal to carry the whole of America together is good news for the part of the world that India likes to be seen with increasingly these days. While the emphasis is on ensuring ‘the supply chain for America begins in America’, the nature of chains allows aspirants like India to climb on and be the chain link in diversified supply chains. Biden also talked about the US needing to clean up its own house, in law and order and legislation. That, too, was good to hear, since clarity begins at home.
