The Netherlands wants to be
US President Joe Biden's
“gateway”
to Europe after the UK leaves the EU, Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte said on Friday.
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Mark Rutte added that the Netherlands is the
“most transatlantic” country
in the European Union and that they want to take on the role of the United Kingdom, after Brexit and the departure of Donald Trump.
The Dutch and the British were long-standing allies in their defense of free trade and they often took sides against the French and Germans on trade issues within the EU.
"The Netherlands would of course like, after the UK's departure from the EU, to play a special role in this relationship with America, not only as a physical but also a political gateway to Europe. "
said Mark Rutte at a press conference, answering a question from a reporter who asked him what he would tell the American President Joe Biden when they speak for the first time since his inauguration.
"So I would also like to use these old ties to try to play a role in the America-Europe relationship."
No phone conversation planned
Mark Rutte said he had yet to speak to US President Joe Biden by phone and that there was no scheduled phone conversation yet, adding however that he had met him several times in the past. the past.
The Dutch prime minister and his government resigned a week ago following a scandal over child benefits, but they will continue to run day-to-day business until the parliamentary elections, scheduled for March 17.