Biden's World? Views from the United States, China, Russia, and the European Union - Egmont Institute
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No.
No.132
[]
December[Date]
2020
Biden’s World? Views from the United States, China,
Russia, and the European Union
Sven Biscop & Alexey Gromyko (Editors)
foreign and security policy goals from which to
The COVID-19 pandemic prevented the choose. But resources of every kind are always
annual joint seminars that since a few years the scarce. It is the task of strategy to set priorities for
Institute of Europe of the Russian Academy of the allocation of scarce resources. Though policy
Sciences and the Egmont – Royal Institute for analysts across the world are trying to guess what
International Relations organise in Moscow will be the contours of the Biden
and Brussels. But the coronavirus cannot Administration’s grand strategy, statements alone
interrupt academic exchange; a dialogue that do not get us very far. A fundamental question is
is more than ever necessary in a world of whether he and his advisors perceive resource
increasing tensions between the great powers. scarcity or resource plenty. Below I make some
We continue our collaboration through this guesses based on the assumption that they see a
joint publication, therefore, for which we have world of scarcity.
invited prominent scholars from Russia and
the European Union as well as China and the What kinds of scarcity does the Administration
United States to share their analysis of the face? First is a scarcity of extant military
impact of Joe Biden’s victory in the US resources. With a defence budget of $700 billion
per year one wonders how such resources could
presidential elections on international politics.
be scarce. But they are. Modern military power is
enormously costly to purchase and to operate. A
casual reading of the US military press suggests
SCARCITY AND STRATEGY: THE FOREIGN that the US force has been worked too hard in
POLICY OF THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION the last two decades. It is for this reason that one
BARRY R. POSEN now hears that the Pentagon plans to focus anew
on great power wars. The implication is that
Bernard Brodie, one of the progenitors of post- turning away from nation-building and counter-
cold war strategic studies used to say that insurgency will free resources to contain Russia
“strategy wears a dollar sign”. States have many and China. But Russia and China are not minor
EGMONT Royal Institute for International Relations#1
military competitors. And though it seems large: fixing up the US polity, society, and
possible that Russia will have a difficult time economy consumes the first half of the article.
sustaining its recent military improvements, And anyone who paid much attention to the
China has barely scratched the surface of what it recent presidential campaign would have noticed
can do. Extant military resources are already that foreign policy played a minor role. The
scarce. principal discussion was about which candidate
would be harder on China. This gives us a hint as
Second, the Administration faces a scarcity of to where the major overseas priority of the
money. Though there are certainly western Administration will be – Asia, because the
economists who claim that advanced economies candidates vied with one another expressing a
can continue to borrow vast sums not only to hard line. Polling data (if such can be quoted with
fight and recover from the pandemic, but to a straight face in the US, after the predictive
address climate change and income inequality, failures of the last two presidential campaigns)
there are others who would say that this cannot suggests that the public is quite concerned about
go on forever. Even if the Democrats take the China, though some have economic concerns
Senate, it is unlikely that they will be comfortable while others have security concerns. Containing
simply adding to the deficit both to fix the US, China is popular in both the Democratic and
and to continue to defend all the extended Republican parties. As Biden wants to work with
ramparts of the “US-led liberal world order”. Republicans, the containment of China may be
Biden has won the Presidency largely on Donald the path of least resistance to some bipartisan
Trump’s failure to look after the US public. policy successes. China’s rise would be a serious
Fighting the pandemic, and then fixing the security matter even if the American public were
economy will be job No. 1 for Biden. not interested. A focus on China in US foreign
and security policy, to include trade and
Third, despite the President’s convincing double technology, is thus almost inevitable. And given
victories in the popular and the electoral votes, he the size of the China challenge, and the scarcity
nevertheless faces a scarcity of political capital. of security resources, there is not going to be
The American politics pundits agree: his coattails much left for anything else.
were short. There was no blue wave to bring him
deep political reserves of support in the House The rest of America’s allies should take some
and Senate and in the State legislatures. Donald comfort from a return to normalcy at least in
Trump’s total popular vote was the second terms of the US foreign policy process. But allies
greatest in US history, Biden’s total the first. in Europe and the Middle East should take note.
President Biden will need to husband his political Sure, the Biden administration will work
capital. He will spend it on the issues that will multilaterally on problems of collective concern,
yield him the greatest political support, and those such as nuclear proliferation, climate change, and
are domestic. even trade. But it may not be long before those
who hope for a return to the old days find
If President elect Biden and his advisors see these themselves disappointed. President elect Biden
constraints, how might it affect what they actually says many nice things about the Transatlantic
do? Even a casual reading of Biden’s March 2020 Alliance. But if scarcity is real, he will be looking
Foreign Affairs article “Why America Must Lead for a better bargain. All agree that a European-US
Again”, suggests that US internal problems loom partnership to address the neo-mercantilist
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aspects of Chinese foreign policy would be of be cross cutting pressures of course. Iran simply
great help. The European Union would loom has no friends in the US and has no way to get
large in such a partnership, though Americans any. Oil prices and supply will matter to
frankly do not quite understand the Union and prosperity in the west for perhaps another
how it works. But saying this does not make it so. decade. The Arab petro-states effectively use the
Europeans will need to organize their own China main tool at their disposal – money – to garner
strategy, and find areas of overlap with the US. influence in Washington. But the gravitational
Europe depends far more on international trade pull of petroleum on policy is beginning to wane
than does the US. It is likely that Europeans will and US policy-makers will focus their attention
need to make some hard choices about how hard- elsewhere.
nosed they wish to be on China, and these
choices may not overlap with those of the US. These projections depend on Biden and his
Similarly, Europeans will notice, if they have not advisors’ perceptions of scarce resources. But
already noticed, that Asia is a magnet for US perhaps resources will prove more plentiful than
military resources. US interest in military burden- I imagine. The shortages of military, financial,
sharing antedates President Trump, even if it was and political capital discussed above could be
expressed more artfully. The situation is getting evanescent. The US economy is quite resilient
worse. The European members of NATO are, and innovative. Our opponents may prove less
due to distance, inefficient contributors to the strong than they appear at present. The American
military containment of China. They are, public might at heart be as outward looking and
however, potentially very efficient contributors internationalist as some pollsters contend, and
to the containment of Russia. Expect continuing never again support Trumpian transactionalism.
pressure to do more. The clever and well-resourced US military may
come up with another wave of technological
Finally, what shall we expect of policy for the innovations that leave their opponents’ heads
greater Middle East? Israel will be fine, but not spinning. If these emerge quickly as the actual
the Palestinians. It is simply not worth the facts of the case, then US allies in Europe can
political cost for a US President to pressure Israel return to the happy days of the late 1990s, when
to do much of anything. As we move eastward, security was a free good provided by a benevolent
however, things get interesting. President elect hegemon at the helm of the liberal world order.
Biden and his advisors seem to take climate But I would not bet on it.
change quite seriously. So do European
statespersons. Sooner or later the fundamental Dr. Barry R. Posen is Ford International
question will arise: why should the US continue Professor of Political Science at MIT, and
to commit blood and treasure to the Persian Gulf Director Emeritus of the MIT Security
to defend a low price for the oil that we now Studies Program. He is the author of
know to be poisonous to the planet? And given numerous articles and books, including
an aroused progressive wing of the Democratic “Europe Can Defend Itself” (in: Survival,
Party, why defend profoundly illiberal regimes Vol. 62, 2020, No. 6), and Restraint: A New
that show no sign of reform whatsoever? Why Foundation for U.S. Grand Strategy, (Cornell
defend a cartel that periodically fixes the price of University Press, 2014).
oil in order to bankrupt US domestic producers,
and put their employees out of work? There will
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BIDEN’S GEOPOLITICAL FALLOUT FOR of an economic cut-off, but might seek
CHINA decoupling in certain fields, such as technology,
FENG ZHONGPING & HUANG JING instead. He might rekindle the cooperation with
Beijing on climate change and on regional
No one will be surprised to learn that Beijing has hotspots such as North Korea, Iran, and
been following the American election closely. Afghanistan.
Who is in the White House means a lot not only
for Sino-US relations, but also for US policies A Transatlantic Reset?
toward Europe, Russia, and China’s neighbours. Biden has received overwhelmed support across
the Atlantic. Europeans are much more
A Silver Lining for Sino-US Relations? enthusiastic than China about the new president.
Chinese decision-makers and think-tankers have Transatlantic policy might turn out to be one of
been distressed by the unpredictability that the biggest policy changes after the power
Donald Trump brought to US foreign policy in reshuffle in Washington.
the past four years. President-elect Joe Biden,
who is a former US Vice-President and a foreign No doubt, Biden will try to strengthen
policy veteran, is deemed to be more predictable. transatlantic bonds once he is in office. His
Many of his advisers used to serve in the Barack proposal of a Democracy Summit has already
Obama administration, while Biden himself has aroused much enthusiasm among US allies. His
had numerous encounters with the Chinese choice of Antony Blinken, whose ties to Europe
leadership during his political career. are said to be lifelong, deep and personal, as his
Secretary of State sends a strong signal.
But Beijing knows very well that President Biden According to a think-tank speech in July, Blinken
will not stop the US from seeing China as a said: “China sees alliances as a core source of
competitor. It is after all Barack Obama, the strength for the United States, something they
President that Biden served as Vice-President, don’t share and enjoy”.1
who “pivoted to Asia”. Obama even claimed
recently that “if we hadn’t been going through a Judging from Biden’s speeches during the
financial crisis, my posture toward China would campaign trail, the next US president will return
have been more explicitly contentious around to the Paris Agreement on climate change, a
trade issues”. European pet project, and re-enter the US in
many multilateral institutions that Trump has, or
The US will not change its strategic focus: dealing has threatened to, quit. Biden probably will listen
with the rise of China. The change will be in the to his European counterparts on the Iran nuclear
approach. Trump’s key word is decoupling. What deal, another European diplomatic feat that has
will be Biden’s? Biden will not go as far as been destroyed by Trump, and might even find
decoupling. Nor will he go back to the old ways to make a new one.
engagement policy.
Of course, Europe understands that Biden
Presumably, Biden’s approach will be a cannot change everything. The US presidential
moderated containment. He will work with allies, race was so close that although he has won the
which will make his dealings with China easier, election, he represents only half of a divided
but also less blunt. He will not support the idea nation. Not to mention that Biden will be
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hindered by partisan gridlock in Congress. Minister, on 9 November. The next day, he called
Besides, Biden’s focus will be on domestic issues the UK, Ireland, Germany, and France. The day
and China, not on Europe. In a word, Trumpism after, he called Japan, South Korea, and Australia.
will somehow continue without Trump. Such an order might say something about Biden’s
regional priorities in terms of alliances.
Therefore, the Europeans hold steadfast to the
ideal of strategic autonomy, a concept predating The Obama administration used to woo Asian-
but much focused on during the Trump years. Pacific countries with a free trade zone, the
The geopolitical upheaval has left the Europeans Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement (TPP).
with few choices at hand. Politicians in Brussels Nevertheless, Trump withdrew from TPP within
and in European capitals have vowed that the first week of taking office, and the remaining
Europe should not be reduced to a “playground” TPP members have tried to save the agreement
or a “colony”. Toward the end of Trump’s term, as CPTPP, or Comprehensive and Progressive
strategic autonomy became the loudest answer to Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership. Biden
the new geopolitical contingency. might consider going back to a revised CPTPP.
Though German officials might be a little bit less His interest might increase when considering the
interested than their French friends in the announcement of the Regional Comprehensive
concept of autonomy, as the recent spat between Economic Partnership (RCEP) on 15 November
German Defence Minister Annegret Kramp- by 15 Asian-Pacific countries, as well as Chinese
Karrenbauer and French President Emmanuel president Xi Jinping’s subsequent publicly
Macron on the American security umbrella has declared interest in joining CPTPP. “The RCEP
revealed,2 such schisms should not be overplayed. deal shows quite conclusively that the Trump
The Europeans will find no difficulty to get past Administration’s strategy to isolate China and to
this difference about the meaning of words. As cut it off from global value chains has failed”, as
Josep Borrell, High Representative of the Union a European observer aptly put.5
for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, put on his
blog: “a capable and strategically aware Europe is If Biden meets with domestic resistance against
the best partner for the US – and also what joining a trade agreement with the region, he will
Europe itself needs”. 3 have to think hard about how to assure US allies
such as Australia, New Zealand, South Korea,
In his call to Biden in November 23, European and Japan, who are concerned about China’s
Council President Charles Michel identified the rising influence, but meanwhile also continue to
following fields to cooperate: the COVID-19 work for closer economic ties with the
pandemic, economic recovery, climate change, powerhouse.
security, and multilateralism.4 But observers from
the rest of the world might be more interested to For Biden, it is easier to deal with another Trump
see how the two sides solve their trade and digital legacy in the region, namely, the Indo-Pacific
disputes as a start. Strategy, with an increasingly active security
Quad (comprising the US, Japan, India, and
New thinking on China’s neighbourhood? Australia) at its centre.
After the election, Biden’s first official call to
foreigners was made to the Canadian Prime India is a very important neighbour of China. In
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2017, India joined the Shanghai Cooperation list. Second, it simply does not work.
Organization, a sign of its good relationship with
China and Russia. But 2020 has seen the outbreak In the past four years, US allies already tried to
of clashes on the Sino-Indian border, and waves cooperate on issues related to China, sometimes
of clamping down on Chinese apps on the Indian along with the US, sometimes not. For example,
market. Things could have been better without Europe and Canada have a very good
the Quad or the US’ global campaign against cooperation record on climate change; Europe
Chinese technology, some Chinese strategists and Japan have worked consistently on WTO
think. reform; France and Germany have resorted to
Australia on their Indo-Pacific strategies. But the
Compared to Trump, Biden might be a little bit cooperation has been case-by-case.
more critical toward India. Actually, he called the
Indian leader five days later than his calls with US allies have their own interests. Some
Japan and Australia. Though Biden will carry European think-tankers urge the EU to “learn
ahead the Indo-Pacific Strategy, his more from Japan’s adept economic diplomacy”. Japan
balanced approach toward India might help has navigated successfully between China and the
China and India to better navigate their disputes. US, striking trade deals with both as well as with
the EU, they argue.6
A Bitter Russia?
Four years ago, Russia was among the happiest to Europe will not do everything on US terms. In
seen Donald Trump elected. Russia hoped that terms of the economy, Europe and the US are
an anti-establishment US president would change competitors. The common challenge of the
Russia’s post-Cold War strategic impasse. China Model might push Europe and the US
Nevertheless, due to the deeply entrenched closer on economic issues. However, Europe
animosity toward Russia in the US establishment, does not just see China as a strategic rival. The
Trump was not able to visit Russia or to receive EU’s definition of China is a more complicated
the Russian leader on American soil even once, one, mixing partner, competitor, and rival.
let alone to change US policy on Russia – the Europe will continue to engage China.
ongoing sanctions because of Russia’s annexation
of the Crimea in 2014 are a useful reminder. For Furthermore, global issues such as climate change
Russia, Trump is a lost opportunity. and the pandemic might lead to wide cooperation
among China, the US, Europe, and many others.
It seems that the Kremlin is very reluctant to China’s pledge of net-zero emission by 2060 has
congratulate Biden with his victory. The already cleared a path for a good start.
Democrats have long held a negative perception
of Russia. The recent revision of the Russian Prof. Dr. Feng Zhongping is the Vice-
constitution and the turbulence in Belarus might President of the China Institutes of
perpetuate this perception. Contemporary Relations (CICIR). Dr. Huang
Jing is an Associate Research Professor at
Two Blocs? CICIR.
Will a more cooperative US president draw US
allies together against another bloc led by China?
First, such a prospect seems not on Biden’s wish
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THIRTEEN POINTS ON JOE BIDEN AND to the same extent as some Republicans were (e.g.
RUSSIA late Senator John McCain). Joe Biden is more
ANDREY KORTUNOV likely to focus on the transatlantic relations that
were seriously damaged by his predecessor.
1. Narratives Another burning matter is a trade agreement with
Russian leadership tried hard to avoid any China: it will not end the US-Chinese economic
statements that would indicate its preference for or technological competition, but can at least help
Donald Trump. Still, it is clear that the election of to prevent a full-fledged trade war between
Joe Biden does not quite fit into the official Washington and Beijing. In sum, Biden can allow
Russian narrative on the contemporary himself to put most of the Russia files on a back
international system. Biden’s predecessor in the burner, with the possible exception of the
White House with his explicit nationalistic, pending strategic arms control question. It
unilateralist, and transactional approach to implies that we will not see an early US-Russian
foreign policy, was regarded in Moscow as a summit in 2021; at best, the two leaders could
graphic manifestation of prevailing global trends meet on the margins of a multilateral event, like
away from globalization, value-based politics, and the G20 or APEC, to compare notes on issues of
Western hegemony. If Biden is at least partially common interest.
successful in his attempts to restore
multilateralism and Western solidarity and to 3. Attitude
promote a global shift to a new cycle of Donald Trump never drew a line between
globalization, his success will be a blow to the Vladimir Putin and Russia. He always argued that
image of the world that the Russian leadership Putin was a very strong, skilled, and efficient
likes to present. A new consolidation of the West, leader, doing his best to advance Russia’s national
no matter how temporary, is at odds with the interests. Joe Biden does not share this
official Kremlin narrative about the inexorable admiration for the Russian President; on the
movement of the international system toward a contrary, he seems to believe that Putin is a major
polycentric world order. Worse still, it might give contributor to the historic decline of Russia as a
the collective West new confidence. In addition, state and as a society. In the eyes of Biden,
a new reconciliation between the US and its Putin’s kleptocracy, political authoritarianism, the
traditional Western allies will be a major blow to so-called “vertical of power”, and other specific
the various Western populists and nationalists for features of his system constitute a major obstacle
whom Trump is a role model, and will tip the for Russia’s social and economic modernization.
political scales against them. It will also hurt some In Biden’s view, to be anti-Putin does not mean
of the Kremlin’s political partners abroad. A to be anti-Russian; on the contrary, fighting
Biden victory can inject new life into proponents against Putin in the end is the best assistance to
of the Western liberal values that Vladimir Putin the Russian people that the US could possibly
has already written off as hopelessly obsolete. offer.
2. Priorities 4. Domestic Constraints
When the Democratic President finally gets The good news for US-Russian relations is the
down to his foreign policy agenda, it is not likely fact that so far US authorities have detected no
that the Russian portfolio will sit on top of it. The significant Russian involvement in the election of
new US President is not obsessed with Moscow 2020. This does not necessarily mean that this
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matter will disappear completely from Biden’s rather try to bring these sanctions to a new, much
radar screen, but it is not likely to affect the higher level. No doubt, there will be temptations
American domestic political agenda of 2021 as to suffocate the Russian economy by imposing a
much as it did back in 2017. On the other hand, comprehensive set of sanctions on Russia’s
with Republicans in control of the Senate, Joe energy and financial sectors, and by treating
Biden will be significantly constrained in what he Moscow the same way the US treated Tehran
can do in foreign policy, the Russian dimension during the four Trump years. However, bringing
included. Capitol Hill will be in a position to play sanctions to a new level would create too many
an active role in sanctions policy toward Russia, risks for the global economic system in general
in the modernization of US nuclear forces, in and for the US economy in particular. It is not
limiting White House autonomy in matters like likely that the Biden Administration will be ready
the JCPOA or in decisions related to the US to take such risks, especially when it has to deal
military presence abroad. The influence of the with so many other economic and financial
legislative power on US-Russian relations is likely challenges.
to be mostly negative, especially if Russia remains
in some way an issue in US partisan politics. 7. Arms Control
The Biden Administration is likely to be generally
5. Human Rights better than the Trump Administration. The
The “bad side” of Biden for Russia will start President elect has never supported the
manifesting itself in much harder and irresponsible attitude of his predecessor to arms
uncompromising rhetoric targeting the Russian control at large or to bilateral US-Russian arms
leadership. Since Joe Biden, unlike Donald control in particular. He might well try to rescue
Trump, is not a fan of Vladimir Putin, the former the New START and to abide informally by the
will not be shy to express his uncomplimentary provisions of the INF, which the United States
views on the Russian leader. Moreover, Biden will withdrew from in the summer of 2019. He is
pay more attention to human rights problems in likely to pay more attention to the NPT, the
Russia; he will extend more support to political CTBT, and other multilateral nuclear arms
opposition in Russia as well as to politicized civil agreements that Trump did not consider of top
society institutions. He will also demonstrate importance for the US. However, this does not
more sympathy for democratic states in the mean that bilateral US-Russian arms control has
Russian neighbourhood, from Ukraine to a bright future under Biden – any agreements
Georgia (that might also include more active beyond the New START will be very difficult to
support for the democratic opposition in negotiate and to get ratified by the US side. Many
Belarus). US support of Kyiv is likely to grow, fundamental disagreements between Moscow
including various forms of military assistance. and Washington, on such issues as tactical
nuclear weapons, ballistic missile defence,
6. Sanctions engaging China and other nuclear powers, etc.,
Anti-Russian sanctions will undoubtedly remain will not disappear under the new administration.
one of the prime US policy instruments in dealing It is also clear that the Biden Administration will
with Moscow. We will see more of them and the have to start reviewing and revising the old
only question is whether the Biden paradigm of strategic arms control, in order to
Administration preserves the overall approach of catch up with the latest technological
the Trump Administration, or whether it will developments (space, cyber, AI, autonomous
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lethal systems, prompt strike, etc.). the Council turning into yet another podium for
US-Russian political infighting.
8. Regional Problems
Another change in US foreign policy under Biden 10. European Dimension
is that Russia can benefit from is the potential A likely change in transatlantic relations will also
softening of the US position on Iran, and a more have an impact on Russia’s foreign policy. Of
balanced US approach to the Middle East peace course, the numerous political, economic, and
process. The Kremlin would undoubtedly strategic differences between Washington and
welcome the US getting back to the JCPOA, or Brussels will not just disappear, and certainly,
putting more emphasis on multilateral there will be no return to the good old days of
approaches to an Israeli-Palestinian settlement. Barack Obama and Bill Clinton. Still, Biden, with
Unlike some of his colleagues in the Barack his foreign policy experience and his inclination
Obama administration, Joe Biden has always to compromise, will work diligently to restore
been quite sceptical about US military transatlantic relations. Under Biden, we will likely
interventions abroad, and he actively opposed US see more flexibility from Washington on trade
engagement in Libya back in 2011. However, it is talks with the EU, more readiness to consider the
unlikely that the Biden Administration will EU’s opinion on US approaches to global
actively seek collaboration with Moscow on problems, and increased attention to European
Libya ten years later, or that it will seek more US- positions on regional crises. A change of
Russian interaction in and around Syria. One can administration in the White House will likely
predict that Biden will be more persistent than reduce, though not eliminate, the EU’s interest in
Trump in accusing Russia of destabilizing actions normalizing relations with Russia. Having agreed
in fragile states, primarily in Africa. It is also a truce on the western front, Brussels will be
possible that the Biden Administration will more than capable of swiftly transferring its
exercise more pressure on Russia’s illiberal allies forces to the eastern front, taking a harder line
in Latin America (Venezuela, Cuba, and towards the Kremlin. A Democratic US
Nicaragua). President will likely applaud such a strategic
move, seeing the standoff with Russia as a way of
9. Global Commons cementing the transatlantic partnership. In all
The decision of Biden to get the US back to the likelihood, a Biden victory will severely limit
Paris agreements on climate change might open Russia’s room for manoeuvre in its EU policy,
new opportunities for limited US-Russian and perhaps in its broader foreign policy too. A
cooperation in this domain. However, it remains more united West might consolidate itself not
unclear to what extent the Kremlin is ready to only on an anti-Russian platform, but also, to a
commit itself in a serious way to the global lesser degree, against China.
climate change agenda. Another area for
cooperation on global commons is the Arctic 11. Chinese Dimension
region. In the spring of 2021, Russia takes the The incoming Biden Administration might try to
leadership of the Arctic Council and both sides tear apart the Russian-Chinese strategic
are interested to keep this institution separated partnership by trying to cut a deal with either
from the geopolitical competition in other Russia or China and to focus on the remaining
regions of the world. This task does not look opponent. Biden can follow Donald Trump, who
impossible to achieve, though there are risks of called for accommodating Moscow and
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confronting Beijing. Still, it is highly unlikely that experts and professionals (“Deep State”)
Joe Biden can be more successful in pursuing this including those of them who will hold the Russia
goal than his predecessor was. The US simply has portfolio; therefore, US policy toward Russia is
nothing to offer to President Putin to make him likely to be more consistent, realistic, and
reconsider his current close friendship with predictable. Some of the now frozen diplomatic,
Chairman Xi Jinping – be it in the economic, military, and expert communication lines
political or strategic domain. Biden can play on between the two countries are likely to be
the opposite side of the stage, seek an acceptable reactivated, which will also mitigate risks of an
accommodation with the stronger Beijing, and uncontrolled confrontation. However, this does
put the squeeze on the weaker Moscow. not mean that the relationship will get much
However, in this case the Biden Administration better.
will have to abandon its claim to global American
leadership. Certainly, neither Biden nor his 13. Beyond Biden
entourage are ready to do that, and Washington- Today we can only guess whether President
Beijing relations will remain complicated and Biden will serve his full first term in office or
tense. Even more importantly, just as Donald whether we may see him succeeded by Vice-
Trump saw repeatedly throughout the four years President Kamala Harris. It also remains to be
of his presidency that it was impossible to tear seen what she has to contribute to US foreign
Russia away from China, Joe Biden will policy in general and to US-Russia relations in
repeatedly see that China cannot be torn away particular. Still, any “re-set” in these relations
from Russia. Beijing needs Moscow regardless of looks very unlikely under either Biden or Harris.
the current state of and prospects for China-US At best, one can foresee a very limited détente
relations. Under the current circumstances a and a better management of the very difficult and
version of “dual containment” appears to be the mostly adversarial relationship. A real shift in this
most likely approach of this Administration relationship might take place after the
towards Beijing and Moscow, with China being Presidential election of 2024, when new
treated more as a peer competitor and Russia as generations of political leaders replace the “old
a global rogue state. To cut the costs of dual guard” in both countries. These new generations
containment, Biden will try to mobilize the US’ are destined to have very different views of the
Western allies in Europe and in East Asia. It will world and of their respective country’s role in
also try to keep Eurasia divided by forging global affairs.
stronger ties to Chines adversaries in Asia –
above all, to India. Andrey Kortunov is the Director-General of
the Russian International Affairs Council
12. Diplomacy (RIAC), and a member of expert and
Biden may decide to stop the ongoing supervisory committees and boards of trustees
“diplomatic war” with Russia – he arguably of several Russian and international
values professional diplomacy much more than organizations.
Trump did, and he is not likely to keep the
Russian Embassy in Washington (and the US
Embassy in Moscow) in the state of a besieged
fortress. In general, Biden will delegate more
authority and more power to foreign policy
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EUROPE AFTER THE US ELECTIONS: the status of a new centre of power and a new
BETWEEN THE PAST AND THE UNKNOWN axis of world politics.
ALEXEY GROMYKO
There is little for Europe to complain about. The
Brussels, the established centre of the EU, Berlin, euro-centrism of international relations became a
Paris, and other Member State capitals met the thing of the past as far back as 1945. Some
victory of Joseph Biden in a mood of uplift and European empires were buried by the First World
cheering. The last four years with Donald Trump War, some by the Second, or they collapsed in its
turned into the most difficult challenge aftermath. Afterwards, for a long time Western
transatlantic solidarity ever encountered. Trump Europe was in the shadow of two superpowers
became the personification, and a very rough one — the Soviet Union and the United States. Today
at that, of the US policy of strategic decoupling world politics, the structure of which is not any
from the European allies of the last decades. For more bipolar but polycentric, increasingly is
a long time this policy was an undeclared one, revolving around interaction between China and
more an undercurrent then the waves raging on the US.
the surface. Before it was like grass growing
slowly and quietly; with Trump it was thrown into In spite of the ordeal for the US-European bonds
stark relief. of the Trump years, the traditional part of the
Euro-Atlantic establishment, the Atlanticists,
There were times when West Europeans have preserved strong positions. They adhere to
themselves were musing on the virtues of going a vision of international affairs as defined by the
it alone. Then, before 2003 and immediately after, West, understood as an alliance of (neo)liberal
when the words “strategic autonomy” were not democracies led by the US.
yet coined, Berlin, Paris, and numbers of
influential British intellectuals urged their countries to In parallel, in the last years another current in the
acquire more foreign policy actorness, questioning EU political elites has been gaining strength —
the tradition of following the leader on the other autonomists. These are those, mainly West
shore of the pond no matter what. The European, who think that it is an urgent necessity
intervention in Iraq and its aftermath were so to promote the vision of a more politically
surreal, indefensible, and bloody that many autonomous and independent European Union.
Europeans were prepared to decouple by themselves. The ideas of a common strategic culture have
However, the factor of Barack Obama stalled this been spreading intensively, especially since 2016,
process and streamlined the geopolitical moods and the structures of the Common Security and
in Europe. Still, for the unbiased observer the Defence Policy have solidified. The autonomists’
fundamentals did not change — the US kept vision of international affairs is based on the
drifting away from the Old World. principle of strategic autonomy, which implies,
beside other things, the double autonomy from
In the years of the Obama presidency this drift the US and from China, although with natural
got its name — “pivot to Asia”. In Russia it is asymmetry in favour of the American ally.
called a “turn to the East”. No matter how we
identify this geopolitical shift, in essence it The competition between these two parts of the
reflects the objective process of the last 30 years European political establishment has been
— the ascendancy of Asia, first of all China, to growing for a long time, but recently it has
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sharpened. The personal factor of the outgoing was met not only with relief but also with mixed
American president played its significant role, but was feelings, even if on the side. Among them the
not the fundamental reason. There is also a third UK, Poland, and Hungary. Their ruling forces
prominent category of the European political class — have extracted sufficient profits from Trump’s
Eurosceptics of all sorts, but this issue is not a topic of policies. Different variations of Euroscepticism
the present piece. have used Trumpism (which is not the same as its
figure-head) for domestic purposes or as a
The Atlanticists hold that under Joe Biden US- buttress in quarrels inside the EU. Now this
EU relations should return, figuratively speaking, leverage is not there anymore.
to the times of Barack Obama. The autonomists
agree that the Biden administration will be much Obviously, a part of Trump’s legacy will be
more friendly to the EU and NATO, but they dismantled. A question is: to what extent, and what is
think that this is not a compelling argument to going to replace it? In general, whichever European
jettison the goal of strategic autonomy. They ask country we take, there are no overwhelming illusions
a reasonable question: “Fine, under the President that Biden’s presidency can deeply overhaul US
elect transatlantic ties will regain some strength. strategy, which has solidified in the past four years.
But what may happen in four years’ time when
Trump or somebody else like him returns to the Firstly, putting aside the peculiarities of Trump’s
White House? Let’s become more independent character and his eccentricity, a lot in US
whoever is at the helm of power in the US”. behaviour has been quite familiar. It would be
wrong to say that he is a non-systemic politician,
Apparently, a staunch supporter of this approach as he represents the views and psychology of half
is French President Emmanuel Macron. Paris has of the US population, and moreover a significant
been exerting its efforts to look and sound part of the business, political, and military elites.
strategic and to acquire the mantle of the Few people disagree that Trump would have won
European political leadership from Germany. the election if not for the pandemic. US policy
Berlin follows an ambitious approach, seemingly towards the Middle East, excluding Iran, and
awaiting the moment when sympathetic rhetoric towards China, Russia, and the EU were to a large
from Biden and his team towards the European extent a continuation of the previous political
allies will take the shape of some concrete deeds. trends. In a number of cases Trump was over the
This caution is well founded, as in 2021 Angela top, but on the whole he was within the broad
Merkel is vacating the post of Chancellor and framework of modern US foreign policy.
Germany will have elections. Moreover, for
Berlin the change of the host in the White House Secondly, in view of Trumpism’s popularity it
does not mean that the problem with the final would be ill-advised to prophesise what kind of a
stage of construction of Nord Stream 2 will political character will move into the White
somehow ease. This project was the apple of House in four years’ time and to insist
discord between Germany and the US under unreservedly that the outgoing presidency was a
Trump, but Biden is also its ardent opponent. historical aberration. Is there not a chance that
the presidency of Biden will turn out to be a
Rome and Madrid are watching the behaviour of pause before Trumpism and the Republicans,
Paris and Berlin preferring to wait and see. There who continue to control the Senate, are back in
are states in Europe where the victory of Biden the White House?
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Thirdly, indeed for Europeans Biden will be a more Administration and was followed by Obama. The
convenient counterpart then his predecessor, but not ABM treaty was also scrapped by Bush, and
necessarily in everything. For example, the president deployment of the US/NATO Aegis-Ashore missile
elect is an ideologically driven politician to a much defence systems has been a constant of the American
bigger extent than Trump. Therefore, the overall policy. On the other hand, chances are higher that
relationship between the US and China will not under Biden the New START (Strategic arms
significantly improve, and can even deteriorate reduction treaty) may be prolonged for the maximum
further. Intensifying Washington — Beijing period of five years, instead of one year if Trump had
confrontation will make the situation for the EU even survived the elections.
more difficult than before, placing it between a rock
and a hard place. Of course, the matter is not just Also there is a hope that after 20 January 2021 the new
Biden’s ideological preferences, but the fact that China presidency will be conducive to the preservation of
continues to emerge as the main competitor of the the Open Skies treaty, which the US left on 22
US; the pandemic has made this trend only more November. They did not just abandon it, but started
pronounced. to press those allies who still abide by the agreement
de facto to sabotage it. In Russia there is an
Nor are there writings on the wall about any positive overwhelming consensus that the preservation of
shifts in relations between Washington and Ankara. both the New START and the Open Skies treaty is in
On the contrary, the president elect and his most the national interest of the country.
ardent European allies may close ranks against
Ankara, not just on the basis of geopolitics but on the Apart from that, a possibility exists that starting from
issues of human rights and authoritarianism. In this 2021 Russia and the US might find enough political
case, the state of interaction between Turkey and the will to tackle an awful situation in the sphere of
EU, and the situation in NATO, may go from bad to conventional arms control in Europe, where Russia
worse. and NATO military forces face one another. Given
the tensions in NATO-Russia contact zones, regional
Clearly, the continuity between the previous and the stabilising measures should be considered. Re-
new administration is far from comprehensive. If establishing security dialogue and military contacts are
Hillary Clinton or Biden had been the American urgently needed. There are many specialists and
president in the last four years, the US would not have former or current state officials in Russia, Europe, and
abandoned the Paris climate accord, ruined the the US who adhere to this position. One of the fresh
nuclear deal with Iran, blocked the functioning of the products of this thinking process are the
World Trade Organisation, and withdrawn payments “Recommendations of the Participants of the Expert
to the World Health Organisation. On these issues Dialogue on NATO–Russia Military Risk Reduction
Washington will revamp its policies, which will be in Europe”, a document published on 7 December
welcomed in the world. 2020 and supported by more than 130 well-known
signatories.
The niche in which Biden’s victory is expected to
improve the present realities in Russia-Western Prof. Dr. Alexey Gromyko Is a Corresponding
relations is the sphere of arms control. On the one Member of the Russian Academy of Sciences;
hand, the chain of events which brought the Director, RAS Institute of Europe; President,
destruction of the Intermediate-range nuclear forces Association of European Studies (Russia).
treaty, was launched by the George W. Bush
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EU-US RELATIONS To be sure, transatlantic disarray is not due solely
STEVEN BLOCKMANS to Trump. After more than a decade of crisis
management, the EU has seemed as likely to fall
Damaged… apart as to come together over the COVID-19
President Donald Trump's unabashed pandemic. The coronavirus crisis has ravaged
unilateralism has hurt EU-US relations. He has societies and economies. Whereas EU Member
called the European Union a “foe” and “worse States reached a political agreement on a historic
than China, just smaller”. He celebrated Brexit recovery package and a seven-year budget, those
and has encouraged other member states to leave debates have also revealed ongoing differences
the bloc. He has bullied democratic leaders such on rule of law conditionality in the disbursement
as Angela Merkel and embraced autocrats like of funding that could widen once the worst of the
Viktor Orbán. The latter has not helped the EU pandemic is over.
institutions in their search for supranational
mechanisms to enforce compliance with rule of …but not beyond repair
law conditions for membership. A second term for Trump would have probably
meant a further erosion of US democracy and the
Not only did the 45th US President not re-engage post-war liberal order. The EU would have no
with the transatlantic trade and investment longer been able to put off facing the
agenda which Barack Obama abandoned; he consequences of having an illiberal, anti-trade
imposed “national security” tariffs on steel and partner across the pond.
aluminium imports from European allies, and
threatened that more might follow. He also With the victory of Joe Biden, there are four years
subjected European businesses to American to revive an alliance of democracies, face up to
extra-territorial jurisdiction more enthusiastically authoritarian powers and closed economies that
than any of his predecessors, in particular over his exploit the openness on which American and
withdrawal of the US from the Iran nuclear deal. European societies are built, and shape those
parts of multilateralism that serve transatlantic
Trump’s retreat from the Paris climate deal, the interests.
INF treaty, the Open Skies agreement, and the
WHO as well as his attacks on the WTO have During the campaign, candidate Biden
rocked many Europeans’ belief that they share emphasised that “Europe is the cornerstone of
common ground with their most important ally. our engagement with the world” and “our
In fact, Trump has been disdainful of European catalyst for global cooperation”. As a passionate
priorities, from climate change or efforts to Transatlanticist and multilateralist, Biden’s first
improve global health, to human rights and instinct will be to turn to the EU as America’s
development assistance. indispensable partner of first resort when it
comes to addressing international challenges.
As a result, US relations with the EU have
become largely dysfunctional, and this at a time America, heal thyself before you attend to
when unprecedented global health, economic, others
and security challenges demand robust But the President elect’s most immediate
transatlantic leadership. challenge is likely to be an unenviable confluence
of crises at home: the ongoing pandemic, deep
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social tensions, continued recession, and we have known it is dead. A Biden administration
astronomical levels of government debt. Joe will not want to “restore” the transatlantic
Biden will also have to contend with a much partnership; it will want to reinvent it for a world
stronger radical conservative opposition than full of economic, climate, and health challenges,
Barack Obama ever did. This is likely to slow more diffuse power, rapid technological changes,
down the implementation of his ambitious policy greater insecurities, and intensified global
agenda. competition.
America’s partners should not be surprised, and A reinvented transatlantic partnership will
should in fact welcome, the likelihood that demand more, not less, of Europe. The
Biden’s initial focus will necessarily be on European Commission and the EU’s High
domestic challenges. After all, the US is unlikely Representative for foreign affairs and security
to be the type of consistent, outward-looking policy have understood this. In a call on the US
partner that Europeans need and want if it does to seize a “once-in-a-generation” opportunity to
not beat COVID-19, generate economic growth, forge a new global alliance, they have made a
and work to heal its deep domestic divisions. detailed pitch to bury the hatchet on the sources
of tension of the Trump era, and meet the
Reinvent transatlantic relations “strategic challenge” posed by China. The idea is
Even if the US re-joins the WHO, the Paris to revitalise the transatlantic partnership by
climate accords, the Iran nuclear deal, and works cooperating on everything, from fighting
to strengthen the WTO, Biden’s foreign policy cybercrime and shaping the digital regulatory
will be more assertive and transactional in environment, to screening sensitive foreign
response to popular domestic demand. investments and fighting deforestation. An EU-
Europeans should not kid themselves into US Summit in the first half of 2021 could be the
believing that transatlantic relations will return to moment to launch the new transatlantic agenda.
the status quo ante. In all but name, the rallying
cry of “America First” is here to stay. As a Coming up with a common approach will hinge
presidential candidate, Biden has vowed to significantly on the two economies’ ability to
prioritise investment in US green energy, bridge existing divides over tech policy. Using
childcare, education, and infrastructure over any their combined influence, a transatlantic
new trade deals. He has also called for expanded technology space could indeed form the
“Buy American” provisions in federal backbone of a wider coalition of like-minded
procurement, which has long been an irritant in democracies.
trade relations with the EU. Also, the EU will
likely be forced to muster all the political will and Dr. Steven Blockmans is Director of Research
resources at its disposal to carve a third way at the Centre for European Policy Studies
between the US and China, an issue on which (CEPS) in Brussels.
there exists strong bipartisan support.
The greatest danger to a vital transatlantic bond
will be Europe’s temptation to believe that the
relationship can go back to “business as usual”.
That would be a mistake. The EU-US alliance as
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BIDEN’S VICTORY AND EUROPE’S Yes, Strategic Autonomy
STRATEGIC AUTONOMY Strategic autonomy, strategic sovereignty, a pole
SVEN BISCOP of the multipolar world, a great power: it all
amounts to the same aspiration – the EU has to
The president of the United States making a deal be an independent global player on a par with the
with the president of Russia behind Europe’s US, China, and Russia. Why? Because (1) the EU
back: that is just one example of something that, cannot count on any other player to defend the
thanks to Joe Biden’s victory, the European European interest in its place, not even on the
Union will not have to worry about for a while. US. After four years of Trump even the
staunchest Atlanticist should have understood
For a while, for “Trumpism” has been defeated that even the US acts against the European
but far from destroyed – not with Donald Trump interest at times. And because (2) in a world of
winning over 47% of the popular vote. More than continent-sized great powers, the only way for
73 out of 150 million American voters either the Europeans to defend their own interests is to
agree with enough of Trump’s views to vote for integrate and achieve the same scale, and that is
him, or, even if they don’t, somehow find the only possible through the EU.
prospect of a Democratic president so abhorrent
that they pinch their noses and vote for him Strategic autonomy does not mean that the EU
anyway. If the Republican party stays in the hands seeks to decouple from the US. The only people
of people like attorney general William Barr and using that term in earnest are those in the US who
Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, who believe that want to decouple the American economy from
the president is above the law in the US, and that China. Which is exactly what the EU wants to
he can set the law outside the US, another avoid, for such a decoupling could only lead to a
authoritarian populist could very well be voted rivalry without end, an even deeper economic
into the White House in a next election. Any such recession than the COVID-19 pandemic has
future “Trumpist” is likely to be far more already caused, and the end of multilateral
dangerous than Trump himself ever was, if he cooperation to solve global problems and
translates Trump’s political instincts into method prevent great power rivalry from escalating.
and strategy instead of whims and tweets. Instead, the EU wants to work with all great
powers to keep multilateralism alive and reform
It would be very short-sighted therefore for the it, to maintain a global level economic playing
EU to give up on its objective of strategic field, and to prevent the world from falling apart
autonomy. The EU Global Strategy formally in exclusive spheres of interests and rival blocs.
introduced this objective in June 2016, when
everybody still thought that Hillary Clinton Rather than put that agenda on ice because Biden
would comfortably win the elections. It was not has been elected, the EU should grasp the chance
adopted in reaction to Trump’s victory and to convince him of it. The EU must pursue its
should not be abandoned because of his defeat. own grand strategy regardless of who occupies
Strategic autonomy is a European project for the the White House. But a Democratic incumbent is
coming decades, not for the next American an opportunity to do so without causing
presidential term. unnecessary friction, first of all, and hopefully in
far closer cooperation with the US again, so that
much more can be achieved – before “Trumpism”
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surges again. Europeans certainly welcomed Biden’s for safeguarding western Europe from Stalinism
announcement that he will re-join the Paris climate afterwards. But past merit does not excuse today’s
agreement, the Iran nuclear deal, and the World mistakes, nor does it warrant blind confidence in the
Health Organisation. But will the new administration future. Likewise, the hopeful aim of future Chinese
embrace a broader agenda of reviving good behaviour does not warrant condoning today’s
multilateralism? Will it continue confronting China transgressions. Strategy is a rational business: one
for the mere reason that it is a peer competitor of the must judge each action in its own right, in light of
US, or will it define more specific strategic objectives one’s interests.
that leave open the possibility of an accommodation
with China, provided it observes certain rules? Reason shows, that the EU cannot achieve the same
degree of strategic autonomy in all areas at once. The
A lot depends indeed on China’s future behaviour. EU is a global economic power, and it is learning
Strategic autonomy was never about equidistance: how to get better at geo-economics and translate
the EU prefers to defend its interest together with economic power into political leverage. Europe’s
the US, and is obviously much closer to it than to military power is lagging behind. Not mainly,
China. If China turns into an aggressive power, the however, because it does not spend enough: in 2019,
EU must ally with the US to halt any expansionist the EU-27 spent $214.8 billion on defence, more
designs. But even authoritarian China does have than China ($181 billion) and much more than
legitimate international interests, and the right to Russia ($48.2 billion). The only reason why the EU
pursue those in a legitimate way; its success at that is not a military power on a par with its economic
must be an incentive to do better ourselves, not to power is because, against reason, its Member States
excoriate China. Will Beijing understand that Biden’s so far refuse to apply to defence the same key to
victory is a chance for it too? Give those in the EU achieve power: integration. If they would integrate
and the US who still believe cooperation is possible their militaries, they could build up an EU pillar of
something to work with, and workable great power NATO that in conventional military terms could
relations could yet be preserved. Persist in stand tall on its own. That balance, and not perennial
obstinately refusing effective reciprocity in economic subservience, is the key to NATO’s continued
relations, and see the camp that clamours for relevance on both sides of the Atlantic.
confrontation grow ever stronger.
The EU must actively engage the US as an equal,
Ambition not Nostalgia therefore. Europeans can count themselves lucky
Atlanticists tend to decry European strategic that Joe Biden won. They should not spoil their luck
autonomy as unrealistic. But that is circular and waste the opportunity to advance their agenda.
reasoning: Europe is weak and dependent on the US, on specific niches.
therefore it is not allowed to express any serious
ambition, and so it remains forever weak and Prof. Dr. Sven Biscop, an Honorary Fellow of
dependent on the US. Will the US forever accept the European Security and Defence College,
that? Again, Trump should have taught Europeans is Director of the Europe in the World
otherwise. One may be nostalgic for the transatlantic Programme at the Egmont – Royal Institute
harmony of the past (and it is probably more for International Relations in Brussels, and
harmonious with hindsight than it looked at the professor at Ghent University.
time). One must be grateful for the American
contribution to liberating Europe from Nazism and
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