Biden "Diplomacy First Over Force"... Explanation of Defense Secretary Nomination Background (Comprehensive)

Introducing Diplomatic and Security Policy Directions Through Unusual Media Contributions
Nominee Requests Early Parliamentary Approval and Inauguration Confirmation

President-elect Joe Biden of the United States and Secretary of Defense nominee Lloyd Austin [Image source=EPA Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy New York=Correspondent Baek Jong-min] Regarding President-elect Joe Biden's appointment of retired Central Command Commander Lloyd Austin as the next Secretary of Defense, on the 8th (local time), he explained the background of the appointment by saying, "We share a commitment to use force only as a last resort." This is interpreted as a commitment to restrain the use of force in order to expand a diplomacy policy centered on alliances. Biden officially nominated Austin as Secretary of Defense on the same day.

After nominating Austin as Secretary of Defense, Biden mentioned in an op-ed published in the weekly magazine The Atlantic, "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."

This reflects Biden's policy stance that defense should also be utilized as part of diplomacy. In the op-ed, he emphasized that "the Department of Defense must support American diplomacy." He also argued that through a diplomacy policy that revives alliances, the United States must restore its leadership and unite the world to confront threats to U.S. security such as the COVID-19 pandemic, climate change, nuclear proliferation, and refugee crises.

In the op-ed, he introduced Austin as someone he first met in Iraq in August 2010 and praised him by saying, "Austin demonstrated leadership that prioritizes national security on behalf of the President."

He also requested Congress to allow Austin's appointment. Austin does not meet the requirement of having been retired for at least seven years to serve as Secretary of Defense, as he retired only four years ago. Regarding this, Biden added, "I hope Congress will allow Austin to serve as 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 was appointed through special congressional approval.

Austin, nominated as the first Black U.S. Secretary of Defense in history, served as the first Black U.S. Army Vice Chief 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.

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