US President Donald Trump is (almost) history.
Political scientist Stephan Bierling explains his successor Joe Biden's stance on Europe.
The time of
Donald Trump
as
President
of the United States of the
United States
is over.
The
relationship with Europe
was tense under the controversial head of state.
Is it getting better now?
Political scientist
Stephan Bierling
explains what
could and cannot change
under his successor
Joe Biden
.
Munich -
Stephan Bierling
is professor for transatlantic relations at the
University of Regensburg
.
In his book America First.
Donald Trump
in the White House “he analyzed the policies of the outgoing US President and his relationship to Germany and Europe.
This will
improve
with
Joe Biden
, he says.
But problems remain.
Joe Biden succeeds Donald Trump - Where the US President is in line with Europe
Mr Bierling, shortly before the handover, the US government announced sanctions for the Nord Stream 2 pipeline.
Will Joe Biden row back?
Not much should change on this issue.
Obama, like almost all European countries, was against the project.
In
terms of content,
Biden
is not far from
Trump
.
In which questions can a U-turn be expected after the Trump years?
Even today, Biden will lead the
US
back to the Paris Agreement and the World Health Organization.
He is also seeking talks on disarmament with Russia and the nuclear deal with Iran.
American troops remain in Germany.
These are low-hanging fruits, but Biden is on the European line.
In which questions does it get more complicated to find a common line?
In relation to
China,
for example.
The EU recently slapped the Americans when it hastily reached an investment agreement with Beijing.
An agreement with the USA would have been possible and correct here.
US President Biden and the relationship with Europe: Optimal start is already "messed up"
Even under Biden, the US will not only adhere to "Nord Stream 2", but also to other central demands?
Yes.
With the demand on Berlin to spend the promised two percent of economic output on defense and to reduce its gigantic trade surplus.
How could Germany contribute to better relations?
With the agreement with China, the optimal start has already been messed up.
Burying
Nord Stream 2
would be a good signal.
Germany could also take steps to straighten its trade balance.
That does not mean that exports should be weakened, but that imports should be stimulated through investments in infrastructure or tax cuts.
Former NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen believes
that Europe
shouldn't feel too safe
with
Joe Biden and the USA
:
Joe Biden becomes new US President - "Will remain under constant diplomatic pressure"
Will the American way of doing politics towards Europe change again under Biden?
Most certainly.
Trump
wanted to divide Europe.
Biden
understands that a strong, united Europe is important as a partner for Washington.
But Germany and the other Europeans give way to China.
So the Chancellor no longer meets the Dalai Lama.
We will remain under constant diplomatic pressure from the US to join its China course.
They continue to see differences, but believe the relationship is getting better ...
Atmospherically quite safe.
Biden knows
Merkel
and other heads of state from his time as Vice President under Obama.
For a long time he chaired the Senate Foreign Affairs Committee.
You will find few politicians in the US who are more pro-European than him.
And Europe will again have competent contacts.
Trump had fourth-rate staff and interfered with them.
Good people were evicted, the State Department bled to death.
Healing that will take time.
One year is an optimistic forecast.
The interview was conducted by Stefan Reich