Biden's First Statement on Europe: "America Has Returned"... Strengthening Pressure on China and Russia

Arrival in the UK for First Overseas Tour... First Schedule Includes Visit to US Military Base
Leading Discussions on Ending COVID-19 at G7 Summit from 11th to 13th
Agreement Expected to End 3-Year Tariff Dispute at EU Summit on 15th

[Asia Economy New York=Correspondent Baek Jong-min, Reporter Park Byung-hee] U.S. President Joe Biden arrived in the United Kingdom on the 9th (local time), his first overseas trip since taking office, declaring "America is back" and expressing a strong commitment to restoring democratic alliances against China and Russia.

Starting from the UK, President Biden will continue his tour to Belgium, Switzerland, and other countries, attending the Group of Seven (G7) summit (11th-13th), the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) summit, and the U.S.-European Union (EU) summit. On the 16th, he is also scheduled to hold a summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Geneva, Switzerland. Prior to that, on the 10th, he will meet with UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson to discuss issues such as the resumption of travel between the two countries.

◆ Expected to increase pressure on China and Russia at the G7 summit = During this trip, Biden is expected to lead discussions on ending COVID-19, restore the United States' status as a global leader, and increase pressure on China and Russia by strengthening alliances with allies.

Upon arrival in the UK, his first schedule was to visit U.S. troops stationed in the UK, where he declared before the soldiers, "America is back. Democratic countries around the world will stand together to face the most important and difficult challenges and issues of our future."

Before departing for the UK, President Biden emphasized, "The goal of this trip is to strengthen alliances and make it clear to Putin and China that the bond between Europe and the U.S. is strong and that the G7 will take action."

President Joe Biden (right), embarking on his first overseas trip since taking office, arrived at Newquay Cornwall Airport in the UK on the 9th (local time) with First Lady Jill Biden, wearing a bright smile. As his first schedule, President Biden visited the US military base stationed in the UK, stating, "America is back," and added, "Democratic countries around the world will come together to face the most important and difficult challenges and issues of our future." Newquay (UK) = Reuters Yonhap News Photo by Reuters

Just before his trip, President Biden revoked the executive orders signed by former President Donald Trump banning TikTok and WeChat. Instead, he signed an executive order directing the Secretary of Commerce to investigate the risks posed by apps operated overseas to U.S. national security and privacy.

Although the Biden administration canceled the TikTok ban executive order, it is expected to strengthen measures to comprehensively block attempts by foreign countries, including China, to exploit U.S. information. U.S. media anticipate that the Department of Commerce will soon announce follow-up actions.

According to Bloomberg, the draft joint statement of the G7 summit is expected to include a commitment that "the G7 will cooperate to prevent forced labor." Although China is not explicitly mentioned, considering that China has faced international criticism for human rights abuses in the Xinjiang and Uyghur regions, this is clearly aimed at China.

At the summit scheduled with Russian President Vladimir Putin on the 16th, President Biden is expected to take a tough stance on issues such as hacking, human rights violations, the Ukraine conflict, and nuclear weapons negotiations.

◆ Ending tariff disputes with the EU... Restoring transatlantic relations = At the EU summit on the 15th, President Biden is expected to reach an agreement with EU leaders to end the tariff dispute with the EU that has lasted for three years within this year. This is also interpreted as a strategic move to restore the alliance with the EU and focus on competition with China.

The tariff dispute between the U.S. and the EU began in 2018 during former President Donald Trump's administration. When the Trump administration imposed tariffs on EU steel and aluminum, the EU retaliated by imposing tariffs on American products such as Harley-Davidson motorcycles, leading to a clash.

Both the U.S. and the EU are expected to agree at this summit not only to halt further tariff increases but also to eliminate tariffs altogether.