Election’s international political impact

The United States presidential elections received big attention worldwide by the end of 2020. There are several engagements and relations between the European Union and United States, therefore millions of people watched the elections and waited for the results. How the results of the elections will affect the World and what changes European countries experience in the future under Biden’s control is still to be seen.

Europe and America have always been allies, but under Donald Trump’s presidency, the U.S. had begun distancing itself from international cooperation at an increasing rate, withdrawing from treaties and international organizations. However, on Jan. 20, Joe Biden took control, which also gives the EU the opportunity to resume previous cooperation.

Nicolas Nicoletti, international and political science professor, believes the U.S. elections affected the European Union’s political and economic system and recognizes the biggest differences that can be seen or will be seen internationally.

“Former President Donald Trump’s political idea was ‘America First.’ This meant that the United States looked at what was best for them, which means that America pulled back from things like NATO and the escalation in a trade war with China and the European Union. This was not really good for world politics,” said Nicoletti.

While this had happened in Trump’s four years, the European Union started to realize that they were going to have to do it alone. They recognized that they would need to start getting some new strategies. They broke away from these traditional alliances with the United States and started to venture on their own things.

“President Joe Biden’s going to have to reconnect with the world. He’s going to have to show the world that America is open and willing to negotiate in trade and environment, in all those things that are important to the European Union,” said Nicoletti. “The challenge is when many powerful European Union leaders look at the United States, they feel a lot of changes. They can’t be sure that the ‘America First’ form of politics is left just because Trump has left.”

While Trump still had power prior to Biden taking office, he asked the EU not to sign a trade deal with China, however, since the EU had been breaking away with the United States they questioned if they wanted to negotiate with the United States.

“The European Union is going to continue this pursuit, meaning Biden has to reconnect, rejoin and negotiate with them in the future to change this. President Trump was an interesting character and has a very tough outlook on immigration and trade,” said Nicoletti.

“The European Union is going to continue this pursuit, meaning Biden has to reconnect, rejoin and negotiate with them in the future to change this. President Trump was an interesting character and has a very tough outlook on immigration and trade,” said Nicoletti.

Comparing the political differences between America and Europe, the American system is a presidential system. The European Union is a trial and countries in the union all have different styles of government – usually parliamentary. All of the countries that are democratic or republic seem to get along well. The big question is what the power structures are in these countries and if they do change, how the countries relate to each other.

“The United States, being a presidential system with elections every four years, this is always a chance to revise the government. While in parliamentary, if the majority party wins the most seats, they can pretty much do whatever they want in their country,” said Nicoletti.

For the next 4 years, Nicoletti sees a more Democratic situation in America, but Biden must rebuild first, and the biggest issue is how the US, the European Union and China will act with each other.

“China is a rising power; they want to change the way the world works. After World War II, The United States was dominant in the system, and created the United Nations when they were the protector of the west. Now China is growing, and they want power. They no longer want to be subjugated to the international community. They don’t have to be because they have the power to change things. China wants to change relationships and at the same time everybody wants to play with them,” said Nicoletti.

Because of Trump’s ‘America First’ agenda, it led to China stepping in where America previously was. Thus, China is becoming more dominant as America has drifted away and the international community is going to be something Biden will have to deal with moving forward.

On Dec. 2, 2020, the European Commission presented a proposal for a new transatlantic agenda that sets the boundaries for cooperation.

European Parliament President David Sassoli said, “the world needs a strong relationship between Europe and the United States, especially in these difficult times. We look forward to working together to tackle the coronavirus, climate change and growing inequalities.”

The council also reaffirmed the importance of the partnership in a statement on Dec. 7, and the European Parliament also looks forward to closer cooperation.