Preparing to welcome President Joe Biden, it is seen as a significant development that he considers Europe an ally and NATO an essential part of Western security. However, the impact of the previous administration has left lasting wounds that may take time to heal, according to experts. Rosa Balfour, director of Carnegie Europe, warned against underestimating the shock caused by the Trump years on the European Union, leading to caution in accepting US demands. There are various important topics to address, such as the Afghanistan withdrawal, military expenditures, relations with Russia and China, trade conflicts, climate change, and vaccine diplomacy. The Europeans appreciate Biden's promises of loyalty and affection, but they have seen how quickly US foreign policy can change with a new president. They worry that America has shifted, and that Biden is just a temporary leader before more populist, nationalist presidents take over. They are uncertain about the costs of Biden's policies and how they differ from Trump's "America first" approach. With upcoming elections in Germany, France, and the US, they are aware that time is ticking and Biden's ability to make changes may be limited. Despite this, Biden's upcoming visits to NATO and the EU will be significant. The meetings are coordinated in order for him to arrive in Geneva on June 16 with support and consultation from allies for his first meeting as president with Russia's president, Vladimir Putin. Jana Puglierin, Berlin director of the European Council on Foreign Relations, believes that Biden is starting a new relationship and demonstrating trust in Brussels and NATO. It is important to show concrete results to ensure continued support. François Heisbourg, a French defense analyst, sees only positives from Biden's trip and believes it signifies a positive shift in US foreign policy. Biden is committed to implementing his strong views, with a focus on rebuilding relationships with allies to promote comity and civility. Despite his emphasis on international friendships, there is a need for policy reviews to transition into actual policies. The lack of ambassadors to key European positions is currently not seen as crucial, but allies will eventually need representatives who can quickly communicate with top US officials. The NATO summit meeting, which will include 30 leaders, will be brief, consisting of a single 2 1/2-hour session following an opening ceremony. This will allow each leader just five minutes to speak. The leaders will reach an agreement on a communique that is currently being negotiated, address the Afghanistan withdrawal, and approve a yearlong study on remodelling NATO's strategic concept to address new challenges such as cyberwarfare, artificial intelligence, antimissile defense, disinformation, and other emerging technologies. The previous revision of the strategic concept in 2010 focused on Russia as a potential partner and barely mentioned China, while the new revision will have different assumptions. NATO officials and ambassadors anticipate future discussions on topics like the role of a regional trans-Atlantic alliance in countering China and the distribution of capabilities within NATO between common funding and member countries' responsibilities. Adapting to the EU's ambiguous desire for "strategic autonomy" while promoting European military spending and efficiency, avoiding duplication with NATO, and improving NATO's political acumen are key concerns. Additionally, there is discussion about potentially replacing NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg, whose term was extended to maintain stability during the Trump presidency. Other main topics for the upcoming NATO summit include managing Afghanistan post-withdrawal, relations with Russia, China, and Belarus. The ambassador of a NATO country stated that those interested in trains running on time will find the NATO summit interesting, while those interested in train collisions will be disappointed. The same sentiment applies to Biden's June 15 meeting with the European Union, where he will meet with Charles Michel and Ursula von der Leyen. Biden will have already met with 21 of the 27 EU leaders at NATO the day before, as there is significant overlap between the two organizations. Key exceptions include Turkey, a member of NATO that struggles to balance its relationships with Russia and its hostility towards Greece, and Cyprus, a member of the EU that hinders coordination with NATO due to its animosity towards Turkey. The bloc faces a variety of issues to address, such as trade disputes related to Airbus and Boeing, as well as steel and aluminum; and emerging topics like how to enforce a new minimum global corporate tax rate following an important agreement reached by G-7 finance ministers. Additional concerns encompass data transfer; military spending and procurement; military mobility; transitioning to a carbon-neutral economy with carbon pricing; regulating global technology giants and social media companies; reforming key multilateral institutions such as the World Trade Organization and the World Health Organization; and navigating the challenges posed by a rising China and an aggressive Russia. There is also caution regarding the potential for another Trump-like president to succeed Biden. Despite assurances of consultation, German officials, in particular, believe that Biden's decision to withdraw all US troops from Afghanistan by September 11 was made unilaterally, with Washington leading the way and allies following suit. European leaders were upset and embarrassed by Biden's sudden decision to back the waiver of intellectual property rights for COVID-19 vaccines, which was done without consulting allies. Europeans have a different perspective on China and Russia compared to the United States, as they are more reliant on them for trade and energy. Some are concerned that Biden's approach of framing the world as a contest between democracy and authoritarianism is overly simplistic. Nathalie Tocci, director of Italy's International Affairs Institute, emphasized the significance of consulting with allies before the Putin summit. Europeans are fooling themselves if they think things can return to how they used to be. They should collaborate with Biden on crucial matters like climate, vaccines, and trade to create a strong Western alliance that can lead to a wider global agreement. This is the most effective way to demonstrate that democracy is successful.