President Joseph R. Biden, Jr., with Vice President Kamala K. Harris and Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken, delivers remarks to State Department employees, at the U.S. Department of State in Washington, D.C., on February 4, 2021. [State Department Photo by Freddie Everett]

By Gary  Raynaldo    DIPLOMATIC  TIMES

To many U.S. foreign service members at the  U.S. State Department, it was a breath of fresh air when President Biden walked into its headquarters in the Foggy Bottom neighborhood of Washington D.C. Thursday to pay tribute to those serving America in the diplomatic corps. President Biden and  Vice President Kamala Harris told the employees who had gathered in the building and  those who watched from their various postings around the  globe how vital the State Department is to America’s security and prosperity. It was a remarkably fast visit to the  State Department coming only 2 weeks after the new Biden administration was sworn in.  Biden appeared to want to assure the State Department that he cared about its foreign service members, boost morale,  and send a clear message that things will be different in his administration’s  foreign policy.  The American Foreign Service Association (AFSA), the professional organization for America’s diplomatic corps, found that 60 percent of State’s highest-ranking career officers quit during Trump’s first year, and the number of applications to join the foreign service dropped by half.  Biden vowed to rebuild alliances and reverse Trump’s “America First”  foreign policy.  The president made it clear that diplomacy should be the first tool of choice in addressing  conflict on the global stage. 

“I believe in you. We need you  badly. I’m going to have your back. I expect you  to have the back of the American people. You are the heart and soul of who we are as a country. Foreign policy is about promoting the interests of  the  United States.  You are the  face of America abroad. You make great sacrifices to your family, moving abroad for the sake of the country. America is back. Diplomacy is back.”

-President Biden  said of U.S. Foreign Service employees 

Biden and VP Harris met with the new U.S. Secretary of State Anthony Blinken for the  first time at the Foggy Bottom diplomatic  headquarters where the President  deliver his  first foreign policy address.

“Mr. President, Madam Vice President, we are grateful to both of you for visiting us so early in the administration despite the remnants of snow outside.  We know that you want to make the State Department as strong as it possibly can be for our country.  And we know you’re counting on us to deliver excellence for the American people.  On behalf of everyone at State, I promise you we will not let you down.”

-U.S. Secretary of State Anthony Blinken

Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken introduces President Joseph R. Biden, Jr. and Vice President Kamala D. Harris to State Department employees, at the U.S. Department of State in Washington, D.C., on February 4, 2021. [State Department Photo by Freddie Everett]

President Biden added : “We must meet the new moment of accelerating global challenges, from the pandemic to the climate crisis, to nuclear proliferation, challenging the will only to be solved by nations working together and in common. We can’t do it alone. We must start with diplomacy.”

Vice President Kamala D. Harris, with President Joseph R. Biden, Jr. and Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken, delivers remarks to State Department employees, at the U.S. Department of State in Washington, D.C., on February 4, 2021. [State Department Photo by Freddie Everett

“During the past years, you  have remained committed to democracy. We thank you  for your service.”

-Vice President Kamala D. Harris

Vice President Kamala D. Harris, with President Joseph R. Biden, Jr. and Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken, prepares to deliver remarks to State Department employees, at the U.S. Department of State in Washington, D.C., on February 4, 2021. [State Department Photo by Freddie Everet]

Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken meets with President Joseph R. Biden, Jr., Vice President Kamala D. Harris, National Security Advisor to the President Jake Sullivan, and National Security Advisor to the Vice President Nancy McEldowney at the U.S. Department of State in Washington, D.C., on February 4, 2021. [State Department Photo by Ron Przysucha]