While the administration's response to these three situations has been muted, for both pragmatic and political reasons, Biden has taken steps to define his approach to a values-based foreign policy. However, his promise to convene a Summit for Democracy has been sidelined for now.
Biden's tendency to compartmentalise different aspects of foreign policy may diminish the impact of human rights interventions.
Ahead of elections in 2022 and 2024, Biden will take broader US public opinion into account in his approach to human rights.
Revival of the Obama-era National Action Plan (NAP) on responsible business conduct will add to the human rights policy toolbox.
Biden's approach to the southern border will remain a complicated tangle of domestic politics and foreign human rights issues.
