Biden’s step back seen from Brussels. Borrell: For EU-US relations, “it will make a big difference who wins the election”

Brussels – Respect for Joe Biden’s decision and the democratic process in the United States. However, there is some concern because the US President’s withdrawal from the race for the White House increases the bogeyman of a Donald Trump comeback. EU Foreign Ministers are meeting in Brussels the morning after Biden’s step back and wondering about the future of transatlantic relations: depending on who will be the next US President, for the EU High Representative, Josep Borrell, “there will definitely be a big difference.”

To grasp the magnitude of Borrell’s warning, one only needs to glance at the main topics on the agenda at today’s (July 22) meeting of EU ministers: support for Ukraine and the crisis in the Middle East. Two scenarios on which–should he be elected in November– the Republican tycoon has already shown that he can twist the positions of the transatlantic axis. Without delving into the bilateral relations between the allies on the two sides of the Atlantic, already put in great difficulty during Trump’s first term. “We have worked very well with Biden, but if he decides to withdraw because he thinks another candidate may have more strength to make the Democratic Party win, we respect him,” Borrell said upon entering the Council, responding in Italian to a question from the press.

Of the same tenor was the comment of German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock: “I have great respect for US President Joe Biden’s choice to put his country’s interests before his own,” she said. Berlin appears to be one of the Chancelleries most concerned about Trump’s possible to the White House. According to the Financial Times, Baerbock has formed an informal ‘crisis group’ to discuss and prepare for the scenario that could materialize after Nov. 5.

On the other hand, French Foreign Minister Stéphane Séjourné reassured that “nothing will change.” Concept – or wish – that Italian Deputy Premier and Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani agrees with. “We are convinced that whoever the President will be, Italy will remain a privileged interlocutor,” he said. According to the leader of Forza Italia and government ally of Salvini and Meloni, “it is not up to us to interfere with the election campaign,” but “to respect the choices that Americans will make.”

José Manuel Albares Bueno, Spain’s foreign minister,  shows “affection” as well as respect for the 81-year-old President, on which there were doubts about his mental acuity, and for a “difficult decision” that instead shows “depth of vision and sense of state.” In Madrid, Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez had already communicated “admiration and recognition.” In a note posted on X, the Spanish socialist Premier recalled that with his “determination and leadership,” Joe Biden had enabled the United States to “overcome the economic crisis that followed the pandemic and the grave assault on Capitol Hill,” the attempted insurrection fomented by Trump on January 6, 2021. As if to underscore what is at stake, Sanchez also called Washington’s support for Ukraine to date “exemplary.” And that could be seriously jeopardized should the Republican candidate win.

However, “Biden’s withdrawal from the race does not automatically mean Trump’s victory,” said the Belgian Foreign Minister Hadja Lahbib. The Democratic Party convention, scheduled for Aug. 19-22 in Chicago, will name who will run instead of the President, but all focus is converging on Biden’s deputy, Kamala Harris. In the note in which he announced his step back, Biden said he was endorsing the candidacy of Harris, who in turn confirmed that she would take the baton from the Democratic leader. “I wish all the best to Kamala Harris, who will perhaps now take the lead, a strong woman,” said the Belgian Minister, whose endorsement likely reflects the hope of the entire EU not to deal with The Donald again.