Description
The second Trump administration brings with it feelings of great uncertainty as far as transatlantic relations are concerned. The first Trump administration was seen as distinctly disadvantageous for transatlantic relations. Trump’s rhetoric of ‘America first’ and boldness in articulating his requests for greater defence spending caused rifts across the Atlantic. The Biden administration promised to restore faith in transatlantic relations and was welcome across European elites. This paper argues that, rhetorical commitments aside, Biden and Trump ultimately ended up shoring up the US commitment to NATO. Trump talked up NATO’s virtues after receiving assurances from NATO member states over increased defence spending and Biden oversaw a strengthening of NATO by virtue of the manifestation of the Russian threat. This paper argues that deep forces are play, which allow transatlantic relations to nurture and remain intact regardless of who sits in the White House. The variation occurs in terms of the degree of external threat and US commitment to European security. Both variables rely on the US willingness to manage the relationship with its second-tier European allies.
