US, EU diplomats discuss ways to repair ties under Joe Biden’s administration

Top diplomats from the United States and European Union talked about the ways they can repair their relationship as Washington and Brussels prepare to work together on several key issues with US President Joe Biden in office, AFP reported on Friday.

The two parties discussed “ways to repair, revitalise, and raise the level of ambition in the US-EU relationship”, with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken thanking EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell for “the EU’s leadership in recent years,” according to a statement by the State Department.

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While the EU emphasised an exchange on “strengthening multilateralism and the rules-based global system” and praised the US’ return to the Paris climate accord and the World Health Organization, Washington said it “desire to work with the EU and member states to address shared challenges including COVID-19, climate change, transatlantic data flows and economic cooperation”.

Both the EU and US agreed on continuing their cooperation on “issues related to China”.

This statement indicated at Biden’s aim to counter China’s expansion. However, the EU is expanding its trading relationship with China.