Transatlantic relations in flux

This chapter analyzes the US policy and transatlantic alliance dilemma. During the first Trump administration, transatlantic relations suffered severe shockwaves and faced numerous challenges in the fields of economics, trade, security, and global governance. It seems that the Biden administration has ushered in a traditional Atlanticism and reshaped transatlantic relations through a renewed emphasis on democracy, a reconsolidation of alliances, and a reinvigoration of multilateral cooperation. However, the US policy changes do not necessarily solve the structural problems including the dilemma between maintaining hegemony and maintaining alliances faced by the US, and the dilemma between strategic autonomy and strategic dependence faced by Europe. The problem deepened because of the Russia-Ukraine conflict that has supported transatlantic unity in security issues. After Trump’s re-election in 2024, the transatlantic alliance has to be reformulated again.