© TASS

All the recent turbulent events, primarily here in Russia and within its near abroad, should be deemed as an implication of US foreign policy change personified by Joe Biden’s name. Defiant of journalistic mockery about his decrepitude, the old fellow has efficiently reformed his struggling country’s foreign course. The key point is that he has forced the WHOLE of Europe to act in the best US interests, namely in economic and military-political terms. And those of European countries and associations themselves are given the cold shoulder.

Official Washington presents all of this in such a way that, having entered office in 2021, the Biden administration gave top priority to boosting ties with Europe and restoring mutual trust, i.e. the so-called "Atlantic (or transatlantic) solidarity." It was President Biden who expressed the United States' resolute support for NATO and its mutual defense obligations under Article 5, promising to work jointly with the EU and European governments on all the common global issues. Administration officials viewed cooperation with "European democracies" as a key to countering challenges "coming from China, Russia and other authoritarian governments." European leaders are said to have unanimously welcomed the United States’ renewed commitment to multilateralism. Donald Trump's political legacy was finally given up for lost when US-European relations got strained over his sharp criticism of NATO, the EU, key European governments’ performance and the role of international institutions.

Today, those planning and implementing Biden's strategy have shaped an American-European agenda and strategy to strengthen transatlantic solidarity while "sleepy Joe" stays in power. These are its points.

1. The centerpiece is "Russia’s war against Ukraine". The United States, NATO, the EU and "nearly all" the European governments should proceed with their sweeping military and/or economic assistance to the Kiev regime. US and European officials will keep coordinating steps on Ukraine’s military security, including the enforcement of a January 2023 decision to provide the AFU with Abrams and Leopard tanks from the US and German governments or sponsored by them. Moreover, negotiations should go on as regards NATO military contingents or infrastructure to be deployed in Central and Eastern Europe to further deter the "Russian aggression" and NATO survivability operations.

2. The United States, the EU, the United Kingdom and other allies that have actively cooperated on imposing anti-Russian sanctions will keep tackling the problem of waiving EU's dependence on Russian energy imports. Washington intends to expand LNG supplies to the European Union, which is still fraught with difficulties. Some experts warn that transatlantic unity against Russia may be shaken as the war in Ukraine continues, with many European countries combating high energy costs and inflation, as well as getting increasingly determined to encourage peace talks on Ukraine and work out their framework. Account must be taken of the fact that governments and economic elites of leading European countries have returned to the idea of restoring sovereign relations with Russia in the "post-war" period and over the long term in general.

3. American politicians at all levels of legislative and executive power should take an active part in discussing challenges faced by the EU, including the stressful economic environment, shift away from democracy by some EU member states, foreign policy and defense ambitions, i.e. issues that may affect the US-EU partnership.

4. More initiative is needed in dealing with Brexit effects in the context of US-UK and US-EU relations, and the impact on NATO activities. It pays to make best use of the peace agreement on Northern Ireland’s 25th anniversary (celebrated in April 2023). The sides should take heed of those who recommend getting back to the negotiating table on a free trade agreement between the United States and Great Britain, as initiated by the Trump administration and which Joe Biden is known to have not resumed.

5. The Biden administration has already turned to Europe for support in solving strategic, economic and human rights problems posed by China. The US leader has resumed China dialogue with the EU and launched consultations between the US and the EU on the Indo-Pacific region. He also urged NATO to consider the aftermath of China's rise in the context of transatlantic security. It is now desirable that the Congress consider a possible coordination of US-European China policy or potential obstacles along the path, and take proper legislative measures.

One can agree that this "road map" looks logical and feasible enough. The only question is how long the "road" is. It seems to be ending with a turnpike gate of the looming presidential election, after which things may go off-piste.