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Vice President Kamala Harris is slowly working on her foreign policy portfolio in her calls to world leaders and officials. Officials have revealed that Harris plans to put cybersecurity and global health at the forefront of her foreign policy plans.
Two White House officials have revealed to CBS that Harris plans to make cybersecurity, technology, and global health her priority when it comes to foreign policy. People familiar with the matter say that those interests are partly from her time as California’s Senator and her experience as a member of the Senate Intelligence Committee. Harris aides have declined to detail what her domestic policy priorities are, however.
Harris has played a big part in the Biden administration’s efforts to re-engage with US allies and institutions following the previous administration’s isolationist approach under its “America First” policy. The Vice President has already spoken with world leaders including Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and French President Emmanuel Macron. Harris has also spoken with World Health Organization Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreysus and is set to speak with other world leaders sometime soon. Harris was also present in Joe Biden’s bilateral virtual meeting with Trudeau.
“You can’t do all of the other issues of interest without partners, and that is the theme of this administration,” said a White House official. “Global health, cybersecurity, China, climate, the regional issues: You can’t do them unless you’ve got strong partners. And I think that’s the way the vice president is thinking about it and why she’s putting a priority on doing her part to repair those ties.”
Meanwhile, Harris and DC Del. Eleanor Holmes Norton paid a visit to a giant pharmacy Thursday morning to push the Biden-Harris administration’s COVID-19 pharmacy vaccination program. The visit by Harris and Norton was also to highlight the safety of the vaccines that are currently being produced and administered to the public. The two officials were also briefed on the vaccination efforts taking place in one of DC’s underserved areas, Wards 7 and 8.
“I am honored that Vice President Harris invited me to visit Giant Pharmacy in Southeast DC with her today,” said Norton. “This is particularly important today, the day after DC hit the grim milestone of 1,000 lives lost to COVID-19, including Mayor Bowser’s beloved sister.”
