"Agreeing Diplomacy Comes Before Force" Biden Explains Reason for Nominating Black Defense Secretary

Explains Directly Through Atlantic Contribution
Recognized as a Figure to Support the Restoration of U.S. Foreign Policy
Requests Congress to Allow Inauguration and Prompt Confirmation

Lloyd Austin (left), U.S. Secretary of Defense nominee, and President-elect Joe Biden [Image source=EPA Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy New York=Special Correspondent Baek Jong-min] President-elect Joe Biden officially nominated former Central Command Commander Lloyd Austin as the first-ever Secretary of Defense on the 8th (local time), explaining his reasons directly. Biden emphasized that Austin shares his view that diplomatic efforts should precede the use of force and requested the approval of Austin’s appointment and swift confirmation.

After nominating Austin as Secretary of Defense that day, Biden explained the background of the appointment in an article published in the weekly magazine The Atlantic.

In the article, Biden recalled the first time he met Austin in Iraq in August 2010, stating, "Austin demonstrated leadership that prioritized national security on behalf of the President."

Biden emphasized, "The threats we face today are not the same as those we faced in the past. We must prepare to meet future challenges rather than continue fighting past wars."

Biden also stressed that the Department of Defense must support U.S. diplomacy. Through a diplomatic policy that revives alliances, the United States must restore its leadership and unite the world to confront international threats to U.S. security such as the COVID-19 pandemic, climate change, nuclear proliferation, and refugee crises.

Regarding this, Biden mentioned, "Austin and I share a commitment to use force only as a last resort and to empower diplomats and development experts to lead foreign policy."

Biden also requested that Congress allow Austin’s appointment. Austin does not meet the seven-year retirement requirement necessary to become Secretary of Defense, as he retired only four years ago.

Biden directly addressed this, saying, "I hope Congress will allow Austin to become Secretary of Defense just as it did for former Secretary of Defense James Mattis." Mattis, the first Secretary of Defense under the Donald Trump administration, also did not meet the retirement period requirement and received special congressional approval.

Biden emphasized that Austin’s confirmation should be processed promptly to carry out tasks the military faces, such as COVID-19 vaccine distribution.

Reserving the historic position as the first Black U.S. Secretary of Defense, Austin served as the first Black Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff in 2012 and became Central Command Commander a year later, leading strategies to defeat the extremist terrorist organization Islamic State (IS) in Iraq and Syria. Biden also highlighted Austin’s leading role in the fight against IS. Austin is known to have no experience working in Korea.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.