Preparing to welcome President Joe Biden, it is seen as a significant development that he considers Europe as an ally and NATO as a crucial component of Western security. However, the aftermath of the previous presidential administration has left lasting scars that experts believe will take time to heal. Rosa Balfour, director of Carnegie Europe, emphasized the impact of the Trump years on the European Union, warning against underestimating it. She mentioned concerns about the possibility of his return and the EU being marginalized once again, leading to a more cautious approach towards US demands. Various pressing issues, such as the Afghanistan withdrawal, military spending, relations with Russia and China, trade disputes, tariffs, climate change, and vaccine diplomacy, are on the agenda for discussion. Despite Europeans appreciating Biden's promises of loyalty and affection, they have concerns about the sudden changes in US foreign policy that can occur with a new presidency. There is a fear that America has shifted, and Biden may just be a temporary pause between more populist, nationalist leaders. They are uncertain about the true differences between Biden's "foreign policy for the middle class" and Trump's "America first." Additionally, they are aware of the upcoming political changes in Germany, France, and the US, which could limit Biden's ability to make significant moves. However, Biden's upcoming visits to NATO and the EU are seen as more than just symbolic gestures. The meetings are coordinated so that he can arrive in Geneva on June 16 with allied consultation and support for his first meeting as president with Russia's president, Vladimir Putin. Jana Puglierin, the Berlin director of the European Council on Foreign Relations, believes that Biden is beginning a new relationship by showing faith in Brussels and NATO and starting the process of renovating the alliance for the next decade. However, she also emphasizes the need for tangible results to show that the relationship is not just based on words. French defense analyst François Heisbourg sees only positives from Biden's trip, stating that the US is back and there is no cynicism involved. Biden holds strong beliefs and is committed to carrying them out, with a focus on rebuilding relationships with allies to promote comity and civility. While international affairs are not his top priority, experts agree that his policy reviews must eventually turn into action. The recent trip is seen as a symbol of the US reengaging with allies and emphasizing the importance of partnerships. However, concerns have been raised about the lack of ambassadors named to key positions in Europe, with some arguing that having these officials in place is crucial for effective communication and coordination with the US government. The NATO summit meeting, involving 30 leaders, will be brief, consisting of a single 2 1/2-hour session following an opening ceremony. This leaves each leader with just five minutes to speak. The agenda includes finalizing a communique currently under negotiation, addressing the Afghanistan withdrawal, and approving a yearlong study on updating NATO's strategic concept to address new challenges in areas such as cyberwarfare, artificial intelligence, antimissile defense, disinformation, and emerging disruptive technologies. The previous strategic concept in 2010 focused on Russia as a potential partner, with little mention of China. The new concept will start with different assumptions. Future discussions will cover topics such as the role of a regional trans-Atlantic alliance in countering China, the necessary capabilities for NATO, and the division of funding responsibilities between member countries. NATO officials and ambassadors anticipate extensive discussions on these issues. Adapting to the EU's ambiguous desire for "strategic autonomy" while promoting European military spending and efficiency, and avoiding overlap with NATO, is a key concern. Additionally, there is a need to enhance NATO's political acumen, as urged by French President Emmanuel Macron, possibly through new meetings involving member states' key officials. Discussions in bilateral sessions are also expected to address the replacement of NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg, whose term is set to end in September 2022. Other topics at the upcoming NATO summit include managing Afghanistan post-withdrawal, relations with Putin's Russia, Xi Jinping's China, and Aleksandr Lukashenko's Belarus. The ambassador of a NATO country stated that those who are interested in punctual trains will find the NATO summit interesting, while those who prefer train collisions will be disappointed. The same applies to Biden's meeting with the European Union on June 15, where he will meet with Charles Michel and Ursula von der Leyen, who represent the European Council and European Commission, respectively. Biden will have already met 21 of the 27 EU leaders the day before at NATO, as there is significant overlap between the two organizations. Exceptions to the bloc's wide range of issues include Turkey, a NATO member struggling to balance relations with Russia and Greece, and Cyprus, an EU member at odds with Turkey. Key topics for discussion include tariff and trade disputes, a new minimum global corporate tax rate, data transfer, military spending, carbon-neutral economy transition, global technology regulation, multilateral institution reform, and managing relationships with China and Russia. German officials express wariness, believing that Biden's decision to withdraw US troops from Afghanistan was made unilaterally, despite consultation with allies. In the same way, European leaders were displeased and embarrassed by Biden's choice to support the waiver of intellectual property rights on COVID-19 vaccines. This decision, made in response to growing criticism at home, was made without informing or consulting allies. Europeans do not view China as the same level of competitor as the United States does, and they rely more heavily on both China and Russia for trade and energy. Some are concerned that Biden's attempt to frame the world as a competition between democracy and authoritarianism is too simplistic. According to Nathalie Tocci, director of Italy's International Affairs Institute, it is important to communicate with allies before the Putin summit, as it is more than just a symbolic gesture. Europeans are mistaken in thinking that things can return to how they were before. They need to collaborate with Biden on important issues 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.