World Leaders Harris Keeps on Speed Dial
Vice President Kamala Harris would enter the White House already having established some working relationships with allied heads of state, while with others, she would need to develop new connections.
TroibNews 
President Joe Biden, with his extensive experience and longstanding relationships with global leaders, sought to restore U.S. credibility internationally.
In contrast, Vice President Kamala Harris would bring considerably less experience to the White House if elected president, raising concerns about her ability to manage diplomatic and geopolitical challenges immediately. The incoming president will face complex issues such as the strained relationship with China, the war in Ukraine, and tensions in the Middle East.
However, Harris is not entirely inexperienced. As vice president, she has engaged with a significant number of foreign leaders, more than typically expected of a one-term U.S. senator or former California attorney general.
POLITICO's review of over 100 of Harris’ public calls and meetings with world leaders shows her diplomatic engagements, including discussions with the Israeli government and a meeting with Chinese leader Xi Jinping.
Analyzing Harris' interactions provides insight into her foreign policy strengths and areas where she may face unfamiliar terrain.
Harris has predominantly interacted with leaders in Asia and the Middle East and has fewer connections with European, Latin American, and African heads of state. She has yet to engage with key U.S. allies and partners such as Turkey, Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, or Hungary, and she has not met with Russian leader Vladimir Putin.
Nonetheless, Harris has strong ties with Israeli leaders, including multiple interactions with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. She has also frequently communicated with the leaders of Japan, Mexico, Jordan, and the Philippines. Notably, she has had several meetings with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
Some remain skeptical of Harris' foreign policy credentials. John Hannah, a former foreign policy aide in both Democratic and Republican administrations, noted, "It’s been hard to track her influence from the outside." However, National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby emphasized Harris' significant role in the administration’s international strategy, stating, “She brings her own gravity to these discussions and to these relationships.”
Harris has built strong ties with Indo-Pacific leaders, Israeli and Ukrainian leadership, often stepping in for Biden at summits and regional visits. Her engagements with Asian leaders, particularly the Philippines President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, show her influence in the region.
Harris has also established close connections with Israeli leaders, notably Israeli President Isaac Herzog. She has been actively involved in discussions with Middle Eastern leaders, including those from Jordan, the UAE, Bahrain, Qatar, and Egypt.
Her involvement with European leaders includes meetings with French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellors Angela Merkel and Olaf Scholz, and British Prime Ministers Boris Johnson and Rishi Sunak among others. Despite criticisms from some European officials, others have found her to be charismatic and engaged in private settings.
In the Western Hemisphere, Harris has focused on migration issues, maintaining ties with leaders from Mexico, Guatemala, Costa Rica, and Honduras. She has a working relationship with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and has discussed critical bilateral issues.
However, Harris has not engaged with leaders from South America, including Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, nor with Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele.
Harris has also made efforts to engage with African leaders. She met with several presidents during her visit to Africa in 2023, and despite the delay of President Biden’s promised trip to the continent, African leaders still look forward to his visit to strengthen U.S. ties.
Overall, Harris' diplomatic engagements demonstrate her growing foreign policy role, though she still has areas that require further development and outreach.
Contributions to the report were made by Miles J. Herszenhorn and Kyle Duggan.
Rohan Mehta contributed to this report for TROIB News
In contrast, Vice President Kamala Harris would bring considerably less experience to the White House if elected president, raising concerns about her ability to manage diplomatic and geopolitical challenges immediately. The incoming president will face complex issues such as the strained relationship with China, the war in Ukraine, and tensions in the Middle East.
However, Harris is not entirely inexperienced. As vice president, she has engaged with a significant number of foreign leaders, more than typically expected of a one-term U.S. senator or former California attorney general.
POLITICO's review of over 100 of Harris’ public calls and meetings with world leaders shows her diplomatic engagements, including discussions with the Israeli government and a meeting with Chinese leader Xi Jinping.
Analyzing Harris' interactions provides insight into her foreign policy strengths and areas where she may face unfamiliar terrain.
Harris has predominantly interacted with leaders in Asia and the Middle East and has fewer connections with European, Latin American, and African heads of state. She has yet to engage with key U.S. allies and partners such as Turkey, Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, or Hungary, and she has not met with Russian leader Vladimir Putin.
Nonetheless, Harris has strong ties with Israeli leaders, including multiple interactions with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. She has also frequently communicated with the leaders of Japan, Mexico, Jordan, and the Philippines. Notably, she has had several meetings with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
Some remain skeptical of Harris' foreign policy credentials. John Hannah, a former foreign policy aide in both Democratic and Republican administrations, noted, "It’s been hard to track her influence from the outside." However, National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby emphasized Harris' significant role in the administration’s international strategy, stating, “She brings her own gravity to these discussions and to these relationships.”
Harris has built strong ties with Indo-Pacific leaders, Israeli and Ukrainian leadership, often stepping in for Biden at summits and regional visits. Her engagements with Asian leaders, particularly the Philippines President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, show her influence in the region.
Harris has also established close connections with Israeli leaders, notably Israeli President Isaac Herzog. She has been actively involved in discussions with Middle Eastern leaders, including those from Jordan, the UAE, Bahrain, Qatar, and Egypt.
Her involvement with European leaders includes meetings with French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellors Angela Merkel and Olaf Scholz, and British Prime Ministers Boris Johnson and Rishi Sunak among others. Despite criticisms from some European officials, others have found her to be charismatic and engaged in private settings.
In the Western Hemisphere, Harris has focused on migration issues, maintaining ties with leaders from Mexico, Guatemala, Costa Rica, and Honduras. She has a working relationship with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and has discussed critical bilateral issues.
However, Harris has not engaged with leaders from South America, including Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, nor with Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele.
Harris has also made efforts to engage with African leaders. She met with several presidents during her visit to Africa in 2023, and despite the delay of President Biden’s promised trip to the continent, African leaders still look forward to his visit to strengthen U.S. ties.
Overall, Harris' diplomatic engagements demonstrate her growing foreign policy role, though she still has areas that require further development and outreach.
Contributions to the report were made by Miles J. Herszenhorn and Kyle Duggan.
Rohan Mehta contributed to this report for TROIB News
