[ad_1]
Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi spoke for many when he linked this summit to the just-concluded G7 summit in Britain and compared them negatively to Mr. Trump’s tenure. “This summit is part of the process of reaffirming and rebuilding the core alliances of the United States,” said Mr. Draghi, which had been “weakened by the previous administration.”
He noted Mr. Biden’s meetings of similar importance on Tuesday with European Union leaders, which Mr. Trump has seen as an economic rival and even an adversary. “We are here to reaffirm these alliances, but also to reaffirm the importance of the European Union,” said Mr. Draghi.
Another key element of Mr. Biden’s European tour, which will conclude on Wednesday in Geneva, where he will meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin for a much-anticipated conversation, is how the democracies of Asia and the West can meet the authoritarian challenge. . While Russia poses a particular threat to NATO and the Euro-Atlantic world, it is not an economic competitor.
Speaking Monday night, Biden called Putin a “worthy adversary” and said he would look for areas of cooperation with Russia, while drawing red lines around Russian efforts to disrupt democratic societies.
“I will make it clear to President Putin that there are areas where we can cooperate, if he chooses to,” Biden said. “And if he chooses not to cooperate, and has acted in a way he has done in the past, with regard to cybersecurity and some other activities, we will respond. We will reciprocate.”
Yet the rise of a wealthy, aggressive and authoritarian China is what Mr. Biden sees as a major challenge to the United States and its allies, and in Europe he intends to solicit the support of allies for efforts to meet that challenge — militarily. technically and economically.
[ad_2]
Picture Credit!