In his first visit to the State Department since taking office, U.S. President Joe Biden asserted a broad reset of American foreign policy and called for a return to the "grounding wire of our global power." 

Biden said his administration will work with Beijing when it is beneficial for the U.S. "We are ready to work with Beijing when it is in America's interest to do so," he said. 

He also called on the Myanmar military to give back power to democratically elected officials. "We will impose consequences on those responsible" for fighting against the democratic will of their people, Biden said.

The new president said the U.S. will be tougher on Russia and called on the Kremlin to release Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny "immediately and without condition." 

With his visit, Biden sought to buck up the diplomatic corps, many of whom were discouraged by the policies and tone of former President Donald Trump.  

"America is back. Diplomacy is back," Biden said in brief remarks to the State Department staff. "You are the center of all that I intend to do. You are the heart of it. We're going to rebuild our alliances."

Biden also announced that he would halt the withdrawal of U.S. troops stationed in Germany, end support for Saudi Arabia's military offensive in Yemen and make support for LBTGQ rights a cornerstone of diplomacy. He was due to appoint a special envoy to Yemen, which the U.N. says is facing the worst humanitarian crisis on Earth.

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