Skeptical that alliances such as the North Atlantic Treaty Organization benefit the United States and scornful of European integration, President Trump has made EU countries—especially Germany—a target of his tirades against those who “take advantage of the United States.”
- Biden and the World – Part 1 Keeping U.S.- China Strategic Competition Under Control
- Biden and the World – Part 2: Opportunities for Africa in a U.S. Diplomatic Reboot
How different will all this be under Joe Biden? The surface will show some continuity. A Biden administration will be equally keen on pushing back against China, keener on standing up to Russia, and determined to keep Iran in check yet open to diplomatically engage with it.
- Biden and the World – Part 3: A Chance for Europe to Pursue Greater Autonomy with U.S. Support
- Biden and the World – Part 4: Biden Can Restore Balance for Democracies
The main difference is that Biden will invest in reviving the transatlantic alliance and establishing a working relationship with the EU on all these issues. He will be less eager to adopt tariffs on goods from Europe and reluctant to impose extraterritorial sanctions on European entities.
- Biden and the World – Part 5: The Challenge of National Reconciliation and Multilateralism
- Biden and the World – Part 6: Biden Knows Central Europe and It Knows Him
He will also reengage Europeans in multilateral endeavours, especially climate change and global economic governance. Finally, he will press for Europeans to spend more on defense, although—unlike Trump—Biden will look positively at European attempts to pool resources within the European Union.
- Biden and the World – Part 7: Japan – USA; Renewing International Cooperation
- Biden and the World – Part 8: Lingering Challenges in the U.S.-ASEAN Strategic Partnership
Paradoxically, the main risk for Europe is within Europe, because Europeans will be tempted to interpret America’s renewed transatlantic commitment as a reissue of the old leader-followers relationship.
- Biden and the World – Part 9: Furthering the Economic Prosperity and Stability of the Gulf
- Biden and the World – Part 10: Expect a Rebalanced U.S. Middle East Policy
This, though, is not sustainable in a world shattered by COVID-19 and increasingly shaped by U.S.-China competition. A Biden administration will present Europeans with the historic opportunity of pursuing strategic autonomy and transatlantic cooperation as mutually reinforcing dynamics. Europeans had best seize the chance and take greater responsibility for their own future. Other U.S. presidents may not be as forthcoming.
Riccardo Alcaro
Research Coordinator and Head of Global Actors Program, Institute of International Affairs (Italy)
