EU leaders celebrate US return to global scene

Brussels, Jun 15 (EFE).- European Union leaders celebrated the return of the United States on the international scene as they welcomed US President Joe Biden at the EU-US summit in Brussels on Tuesday.

“America is back on the global scene, it is great news for the world and we are really delighted to work with you in order to tackle together some of the important challenges,” President of the European Council Charles Michel said.

“I think we have great opportunities to work with the EU as well as NATO and we are feeling very good about it,” Biden responded.

“America is back — we never fully left — but we are reasserting the fact that it is overwhelmingly in the interest of the United States of America to have a great relationship with NATO and the EU. I have a very different view of my predecessor,” he added.

Former US President Donald Trump repeatedly criticized NATO during his mandate, saying his country was spending far more on the alliance than any other country.

“Indeed the last four years have not been easy, the world has dramatically changed, Europe has changed but we want to reassure you we are friends and allies and we are very much looking forward to working together,” President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen said.

The summit between the EU and US is taking place after both sides agreed on a 5-year truce over the trade disputes concerning Boeing and Airbus state subsidies, according to US Trade Representative Katherine Tai.

Among topics to be discussed at the summit are the coronavirus pandemic, China, tech regulation, climate change, trade tariffs and democracy. EFE

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