MUNICH, GERMANY — Vice President Joe Biden, in a much-anticipated policy speech from the Obama administration, outlined what he called a "renewal project" to connect with old friends and then pressured the listening nations for help with the challenges of security, climate change and extremism.
Biden took to the international stage Saturday at a packed session of the Munich Security Conference. For much of his speech, Biden focused on burden sharing -- in war, in defusing extremism in troubled countries such as Afghanistan, and in keeping the world safe from nuclear proliferation.
"We'll engage. We'll listen. We'll consult. America needs the world, just as I believe the world needs America," said Biden, who called on allies to effectively police their shared world. "That requires a common commitment not only to listen and live by the rules, but to enforce the rules when, in fact, they are clearly violated."
Analysts from across Europe said Biden fulfilled hopes that the Obama White House would set a new tone in trans-Atlantic relations.
Biden bypassed what some analysts said would have been a timely call for more European troops in Afghanistan. The Obama administration is pursuing a "strategic review of our policy in Afghanistan and Pakistan to make sure our goals are clear and that they are achievable," Biden said. "There's a lot at stake."
But, speaking just steps away from French President Nicolas Sarkozy and German Chancellor Angela Merkel, Biden never came close to the no-nonsense words voiced earlier in the day by NATO's top official, Jaap de Hoop Scheffer.
In a morning panel, De Hoop Scheffer pointedly said European countries needed to contribute more to the military work of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization. And the secretary-general said the U.S. had taken some important first steps of goodwill.
"The Obama administration has already done a lot of what Europeans have asked for -- including announcing the closure of Guantanamo and a serious focus on climate change," De Hoop Scheffer said. "Europe should also listen. When the United States asks for a serious partner, it does not just want advice, it wants and deserves someone to share the heavy lifting."
Biden said he represented "an administration that's determined to set a new tone not only in Washington but in America's relations around the world." He asked for help in the transfer of Guantanamo Bay detainees. He reiterated that the administration wanted to talk to Iran -- but made it clear that President Obama wanted the Iranians to end their nuclear program and support for terrorist groups.
