America has returned to the global scene as a liberal democracy dedicated to the rule of law, liberal democratic values, human rights, but it has also returned as a team player, said Charles Kupchan, a senior fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations (CFR).
Speaking at a panel on America’s role in the new geopolitical division at the 2bs forum, Kupchan said that America’s return largely depends on whether Biden will succeed in repairing the American political system.
Biden shows America’s readiness to participate in events outside its borders, however, if Biden fails in his plans, we can very easily return to Trump’s America First foreign policy, Kupcan said.
He also pointed out that Biden really cares about stability and democracy in Europe, as well as in the Western Balkans, but he also emphasized that the President of the United States will now have to be especially focused on internal affairs because the United States is going through a great political crisis.
When it comes to the situation in the Western Balkans, Kupchan believes that more participation, more diplomatic efforts can be expected to improve the situation in the Western Balkans and bring the region closer to the EU, adding that our economic partners should do a lot, because of internal issues the US will be preoccupied with.
Kupchan also referred to the agreement between Australia and the United States. This and similar agreements that the United States concludes with certain countries are an indicator of growing concern for China. He added that the United States is trying to find ways to distance Moscow from Beijing because Moscow is actually the only real partner of Beijing.
Milica Pejanovic Djurisic from the Atlantic Council of Montenegro said that when it comes to the position of America after Biden’s victory, his speech during the UN General Debate from September last year is very indicative, where he clearly said that America is returning as a partner. Instead of America first, we now have international cooperation, she added.
She said that we knew about America, which is active in military operations, but that we are now in a new era where we need to cooperate in the field of democracy strengthening.
Pejanovic-Djurisic believes that the NATO alliance should not be underestimated. The withdrawal from Afghanistan was not well coordinated, which led to the creation of a wrong image of the strength of the entire alliance, she added.
Pejanovic-Djurisic pointed out that changes in the American approach towards China and Russia are expected. The relationship with Russia is an issue that will be redefined, while the relationship with China is an issue that has yet to be defined, she added.
When it comes to what is expected from the Summit for Democracy, Biden and his team will probably present a new strategy for international cooperation with an emphasis on strengthening democracy in other countries, Pejanovic-Djurisic pointed out.
She added that America is there to help strengthen our security system, but also to aid in our EU process.