THE EUROPEAN – SECURITY AND DEFENCE UNION
In the Spotlight +++ United States +++
+++ EU after Brexit+++
The European: Politically the domesnine in 10 favour mainMichael Singh tic situation isn’t easy for Biden. The taining existing alliances. is the Lane-Swig Senior Fellow and Democrats have a razor-thing control And according to Gallup, managing director at The Washingof the Senate and apparently, Trump’s Americans’ views of trade ton Institute for Near East Policy, voters continue to believe in the former actually grew more positive and a former senior director for president. This Right – protectionist, over the past several Middle East affairs at the White isolationist, profoundly mistrustful and years. It is up to the United House from 2005 to 2008. photo: Lloyd Wolf open to conspiracy theory – is completely States’ political leadership hostile to Biden. What are the conse– the Biden administration, quences for the President’s agenda? Democrats and RepubliMichael Singh: As I already noted, American society is more cans in Congress, and leadership at the state and local levels polarised today, and those on the ideological fringes more con– to work together to deliver on these things and to create the fident and influential than at any point in recent memory. Yet at conditions that allow the creativity and self-confidence that the same time, and perhaps a bit paradoxically, polls suggest have always defined the United States to be fully realised. I that Americans dislike this polarisation and would like to see continue to believe that for all of our troubles and divisions, we their leaders work to overcome it. I think this is especially the remain eminently capable of coming together to accomplish case after what has been an enormously difficult couple of great things. years for Americans and for much of the world. But amid this polarisation, it can be easy to forget that there is plenty that The European: Mr Singh, I thank you for this conversation. unites Americans. Our readers will be grateful to follow your ideas and insightful views. The European: Could you please develop this point? Michael Singh: We share both concerns – for example, over The interview was led by Nannette Cazaubon. the rising challenge from China, or deepening economic inequality – as well as aspirations – to remain the strongest and most economically vibrant country in the world, and to devise a foreign policy that prioritises peace and diplomacy over conflict. These common concerns and aspirations present an opportunity both for President Biden, who campaigned as a centrist able to work across party lines, and Republicans, who need to outline a positive agenda to broaden their appeal going forward.
100-day mark: Biden’s job approval
The European: So, can we conclude that Joe Biden and his Vice-President Kamala Harris form a future-oriented presiden tial team capable to overcome the last four last years and energetically tackle the huge challenges in the country, with a diplomacy directed to the US middle class? Michael Singh: In my view, middle-class Americans want a foreign policy that delivers prosperity and security, plain and simple. And polls suggest that they have a good grasp of what is needed to accomplish that – according to the Chicago Council on Global Affairs, for example, two-thirds of Americans want to see the US maintain a leading role in world affairs,
continue to believe that for all of our troubles and divisions, we remain “Ieminently capable of coming together to accomplish great things.” 12