AD 2021: The Biden Administration : Rebuilding Pathways with the Wider Atlantic

Since Joe Biden assumed the presidency of the United States in January 2021, the transatlantic relationship has experienced a surge of enthusiasm and political activity. Biden and his pick for secretary of state, Antony Blinken, are confirmed Atlanticists.

They recognize that, despite Asia’s rise, the United States and Europe are still the load-bearing pillars of any open and stable international system. In fact, The United States has expressed a strong desire to "crisis-proof" the transatlantic space for the future, particularly in the areas of defense, health security and multilateralism. It has also taken a number of measures to develop some sort of transatlantic green deal, including climate action, trade and climate diplomacy. This session will address the significant and fast-moving issues of concern on the transatlantic policy agenda, and their potential to generate new global common goods during Joe Biden's presidency.

- How can the Biden administration renew the transatlantic partnership which will lead to formulating a common strategy towards China, reimagining NATO and expanding the US-EU partnership?

- Will Biden's agenda threaten European strategic autonomy?

- What are the prospects for an inclusive Atlantic policy or Alliance that takes into account the wider Atlantic community?

- In light of the divisions pitting EU Member States against each other, has the EU actually managed to be perceived as a serious geopolitical actor by other power centers (in Africa, Asia and the Middle East)?

- Looking at the wider Atlantic, are there signs of closer transatlantic parliamentary cooperation between the European Parliament, the US Congress, the Latin American Parliament and the African Union Parliament?