Biden’s Lead Is Bittersweet For America’s Allies
A messy exit by Donald Trump would be a relief for Paris, Berlin and Brussels, but also a wake-up call to take control of their own future.
A different path.
Photographer: Steffen Kugler-Bundesregierung/Pool via Getty Images
There are still numerous uncertainties surrounding the U.S. presidential election, but the good news for the European Union is that its unofficial preferred candidate, Joe Biden, looks close to taking the White House. A defeat of Donald Trump, if that’s how the race ends, would mean the 27-member bloc can avoid four more years of aggressive trade wars, attacks on multilateral institutions and erratic behavior.
The bad news is that a narrow and contested Biden win would be messy for transatlantic ties, especially if the Senate remains in the hands of the Republicans. With such a result, Biden’s agenda would be hamstrung by a divided Congress, leaving even less time for a fully engaged foreign policy.