Biden Reaches Out to World in Munich Speech

Vice President Joe Biden set about trying to strengthen U.S. relations with foreign countries during his speech Saturday at the Munich Security Conference in Germany.

Biden made clear in his speech that the Obama administration intended to send a different message to the world than its predecessor.

“I come to Europe on behalf of a new administration, and an administration that’s determined to set a new tone not only in Washington, but in America’s relations around the world,” the vice president said in prepared remarks.

During the speech, Biden outlined some of the Obama administration’s priorities to the world leaders, including the president’s ordered review of strategies in Iraq and Afghanistan, as well as the work to stabilize the U.S. financial industry.

Biden also emphasized the administration’s efforts to reach out to Muslim nations.

“The United States of America does not believe, our administration does not believe, in a clash of civilizations; there is nothing inevitable about that,” he said. “We do see a shared struggle against extremism — and we’ll do everything in our collective power to help the forces of tolerance prevail.”