In his inaugural address to the Munich Security Conference, USA President Joe Biden relayed a potent message – the ‘transatlantic alliance is back’. His key intention was to mend the strained relations between the United States of America and its European allies. The Munich Security Conference, an annual event that focuses on international security policy, has convened in Munich, Bavaria (Germany) since 1963.
The Transatlantic Alliance
The Transatlantic Alliance has served as the cornerstone of the post-World War II world order, symbolizing a collective unity of the West – a unifying concept that both sides of the Atlantic share common values and objectives. It lays the foundational groundwork for shared prosperity and collective security between the USA and Europe. However, this historic and deep-rooted bond between the two largest economies globally has experienced increasing strain over recent years.
Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership
Launched in 2013 but left inconclusive at the close of 2016, the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (T-TIP) is a comprehensive, ambitious, and high-standard trade and investment agreement. This advanced agreement aims to increase transparency and compatibility in trade and investment regulations while ensuring high levels of environmental protection and health and safety standards.
Cause of Strained Relations
A significant cause of the strained relations was the Donald Trump administration’s foreign policy, which operated through an “America First” lens. The former president not only attacked NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization) – the bedrock of the transatlantic alliance -, but he also withdrew from nearly all recent multinational agreements supported by the European Union (EU), including the Iran nuclear deal and the Paris climate accord. Presently, there appear to be disagreements between the USA and EU regarding their interests in China, particularly on economic and trade aspects.
Significance of the Latest Declaration
Biden’s declaration offers a vital boost to multilateralism. With an emphasis on maintaining its strategic global supremacy, the USA initially expressed uncertainties about European defense and strategic autonomy. However, as power has gradually shifted towards the East, successive US governments have expressed interest in focusing their resources and military might towards the Indo-Pacific region. The transatlantic alliance could offer solutions for creating an EU-USA carbon border adjustment mechanism to mitigate the severe impacts of climate change. On the Iran matter, Europeans can expect renewed negotiations for a revamped nuclear deal, aimed at reducing tensions across the region. Furthermore, German Chancellor Angela Merkel mentioned the necessity of developing a transatlantic policy towards Russia.
NATO: North Atlantic Treaty Organization
Founded by the North Atlantic Treaty (or Washington Treaty) on April 4, 1949, NATO was created by the United States, Canada, and several Western European nations to provide collective security against the Soviet Union. NATO serves as an essential transatlantic link for political and security cooperation with its headquarters located in Brussels, Belgium. Its key objective is the collective defense of its members and peace maintenance in the North Atlantic area. NATO operates with an integrated military command structure, yet the majority of forces remain under national command and control until countries agree to undertake NATO-related responsibilities. Each of the 30 allies has equal representation, decisions must be unanimous and consensual, and members must uphold core values that anchor the Alliance – namely, democracy, individual liberty, and the rule of law. The most recent member to join the Alliance was North Macedonia in 2020.
