VOA慢速英语--拜登宣布新政府外交和安全人事任命

President-elect Joe Biden on Monday named several officials from former President Barack Obama's administration to fill top national security positions.

The six named included Antony Blinken to be secretary of state for the incoming administration and Jake Sullivan as National Security Adviser¹. Biden also named Avril Haines to serve as director of national intelligence. She would be the first woman to hold that position. Former Secretary of State John Kerry was another former Obama officials named.

The choices signal a sharp break from President Donald Trump²'s "America First" policies that reshaped international alliances and agreements often causing tensions.

Blinken is a longtime Biden foreign policy adviser. He served in the second highest position at the State Department. He also was deputy national security adviser under President Barack Obama, while Biden was vice³ president.

Blinken and Sullivan have helped Biden form a plan that will include immediate⁴ talks with American allies. Reports say the plan calls for working with other countries on worldwide problems like the coronavirus crisis and the economic damage it has caused.

Biden has promised to rejoin a nuclear deal with Iran if that country returns to compliance⁵. The president-elect also plans to return the United States to the Paris climate agreement. He said he plans to keep the U.S. in the World Health Organization and end a U.S. rule that bans financial support to aid groups that support abortion⁶. Each move would cancel Trump administration policies.

The 58-year-old Blinken has pushed the idea that the United States needs to take an active leadership position in the world or countries like China will do so.

People with knowledge of his working methods describe Blinken as a "diplomat⁷'s diplomat." They say he is thoughtful, relatively⁸ soft-spoken and knowledgeable⁹ on foreign policy operating processes.

Biden also named former Secretary of State John Kerry for a newly created position of climate diplomat for national security. Kerry helped negotiate the 2015 Paris climate agreement and also the Iran nuclear deal during the Obama administration.

Jake Sullivan was a policy assistant to former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. He served as Biden's national security adviser when he was vice president.

Avril Haines is a former deputy director of the Central Intelligence Agency and a deputy national security adviser.

Trump and his campaign continue to dispute the results of the elections November 3.

In announcing the appointments, Monday, Biden said, "We have no time to lose when it comes to our national security and foreign policy. I need a team ready on Day One to help me reclaim¹⁰ America's seat at the head of the table."

Words in This Story

compliance –n. the process of doing what is asked, ordered or required by law

abortion –n. a medical operation used to end a pregnancy which causes the death of the fetus

1 adviser   

n.劝告者，顾问

参考例句：

• They employed me as an adviser.他们聘请我当顾问。
• Our department has engaged a foreign teacher as phonetic adviser.我们系已经聘请了一位外籍老师作为语音顾问。

2 trump   

n.王牌，法宝；v.打出王牌，吹喇叭

参考例句：

• He was never able to trump up the courage to have a showdown.他始终鼓不起勇气摊牌。
• The coach saved his star player for a trump card.教练保留他的明星选手，作为他的王牌。

3 vice   

n.坏事；恶习；[pl.]台钳，老虎钳；adj.副的

参考例句：

• He guarded himself against vice.他避免染上坏习惯。
• They are sunk in the depth of vice.他们堕入了罪恶的深渊。

4 immediate   

adj.立即的；直接的，最接近的；紧靠的

参考例句：

• His immediate neighbours felt it their duty to call.他的近邻认为他们有责任去拜访。
• We declared ourselves for the immediate convocation of the meeting.我们主张立即召开这个会议。

5 compliance   

n.顺从；服从；附和；屈从

参考例句：

• I was surprised by his compliance with these terms.我对他竟然依从了这些条件而感到吃惊。
• She gave up the idea in compliance with his desire.她顺从他的愿望而放弃自己的主意。

6 abortion   

n.流产，堕胎

参考例句：

• She had an abortion at the women's health clinic.她在妇女保健医院做了流产手术。
• A number of considerations have led her to have a wilful abortion.多种考虑使她执意堕胎。

7 diplomat   

n.外交官，外交家；能交际的人，圆滑的人

参考例句：

• The diplomat threw in a joke, and the tension was instantly relieved.那位外交官插进一个笑话，紧张的气氛顿时缓和下来。
• He served as a diplomat in Russia before the war.战前他在俄罗斯当外交官。

8 relatively   

adv.比较...地，相对地

参考例句：

• The rabbit is a relatively recent introduction in Australia.兔子是相对较新引入澳大利亚的物种。
• The operation was relatively painless.手术相对来说不痛。

9 knowledgeable   

adj.知识渊博的；有见识的

参考例句：

• He's quite knowledgeable about the theatre.他对戏剧很有心得。
• He made some knowledgeable remarks at the meeting.他在会上的发言颇有见地。

10 reclaim   

v.要求归还，收回；开垦

参考例句：

• I have tried to reclaim my money without success.我没能把钱取回来。
• You must present this ticket when you reclaim your luggage.当你要取回行李时，必须出示这张票子。