Biden Holds Consecutive Calls with EU and NATO Leaders to Restore Cooperation

President-elect Joe Biden held a press conference with Vice President-elect Kamala Harris (right) after concluding a video conference with the National Governors Association (NGA) executive committee at the Queen Theater in Wilmington, Delaware, on the 19th (local time). (Photo by Yonhap News)

[Asia Economy Reporter Moon Jiwon] U.S. President-elect Joe Biden emphasized the restoration of U.S.-EU relations on the 23rd (local time) by holding consecutive phone calls with the heads of the European Union (EU) and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO).

According to AFP and other agencies, Biden spoke on the same day with Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission, Charles Michel, President of the European Council, and Jens Stoltenberg, NATO Secretary General.

After the call with President von der Leyen, Biden's team explained that they "emphasized his commitment to strengthening and revitalizing U.S.-EU relations."

Europe and the United States have continuously clashed over trade, the Iran nuclear deal, and climate change issues since the inauguration of U.S. President Donald Trump in 2017.

President von der Leyen tweeted that she spoke with Biden and called it "a new beginning for EU-U.S. international cooperation."

She explained that if both sides work together, they can create an international agenda based on "cooperation, multilateralism, solidarity, and shared values."

President Michel also wrote on Twitter, "Let's rebuild a strong EU-U.S. alliance." During the call, President Michel invited Biden to a special summit of EU member state leaders to be held next year in Brussels, Belgium.

Biden had previously spoken with European leaders including German Chancellor Angela Merkel, French President Emmanuel Macron, and British Prime Minister Boris Johnson.

AFP reported that in the call with NATO Secretary General Stoltenberg, Biden mentioned the U.S.'s continued commitment to NATO, including Article 5 of the NATO treaty, which stipulates the principle of collective defense.

NATO had ongoing discord with President Trump over pressure to increase defense spending by European allies and the unilateral decision to withdraw U.S. troops from northeastern Syria.

Secretary General Stoltenberg told Biden that he looks forward to closely cooperating to further strengthen ties between North America and Europe and to prepare for next year's NATO summit.