US President Joe Biden on Wednesday used his first commencement address as commander-in-chief to tell Coast Guard Academy graduates they will play a vital role as the United States reasserts itself on the world stage. Biden, speaking at the Coast Guard’s sun-soaked Connecticut campus, told the 240 graduates that “the world is changing” and told them that they are at a “significant inflection point.” “The best way to meet the wide array of threats we meet today is by investing in America’s enduring advantages,” said Biden, “and ensure we’re operating from a position of strength.” The president used the speech to position the United States as a defender of global rules, trade and marine law, specifically in the South China Sea and the Arctic.

Macairan, E. (2021, May 21). Biden: US must defend sea lanes in SCS, Arctic. The Philippine Star, pp. 1, 4.