Washington, DC, July 6:
The 75th anniversary summit of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) is coming up in July, and it will be a watershed moment for marking the alliance's legacy and, following criticism of US President Joe Biden's debate performance, for evaluating his leadership.
All eyes are on Biden as world leaders get ready to meet, and he is under increasing pressure to prove he can lead in the face of mounting doubts about his political future and the specter of Trump's presidency. Diplomats throughout the world were shocked and worried by Biden's lackluster performance at the most recent CNN presidential debate. Many are concerned that Trump, who has been outspoken in his critiques of NATO and has even hinted about leniency towards Russia regarding defense expenditure goals, would be able to undercut Biden's credibility as a serious contender if he is seen as weak.
According to CNN, Biden's performance issues have been brought up at a crucial juncture, just before the summit, which happens to coincide with major political shifts in several NATO member states. In the UK, Keir Starmer was appointed prime minister following the Labour Party's recent resurgence to power after over a decade, which has added an extra degree of uncertainty in the days leading up to the summit's start. As a result, President Emmanuel Macron's coalition may be reshaped depending on the results of France's parliamentary elections.
Even though officials in Biden's administration have admitted that the dispute has hurt public opinion, they have minimized the damage it has done to diplomatic ties. Antony Blinken, secretary of state, defended Joe Biden's leadership record in general, saying that democracies have always worked together to solve global problems. An experienced former US diplomat acquainted with NATO summits noted that Biden is still under severe inspection at the meeting, and that this scrutiny goes beyond his diplomatic skill and even extends to his physical demeanoir and mental agility. Is he attractive?" Where does he stand sonically? By the way, does he walk? Does he appear healthy? The diplomat made the observation that it seemed like he and his team were aiming to make him appear more active and energized.
The three-day summit, which has been painstakingly organized and prepared for months, is a pivotal chance for Biden to reassure allies of the United States' dedication to NATO's principles in the face of Trump's continued impact. Biden will have senior officials including Blinken and Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin accompany him to a leader's dinner, bilateral talks, and the North Atlantic Council meeting.
Diplomats agree that Biden is unlikely to make a huge gaffe at the summit, but they are still worried that his debate performance will steal the show from the real talks and make people question his leadership skills. "If there is another clear failure, this will feed into the 'crisis mood,'" cautioned a European official, echoing larger alliance concerns.
While Biden's supporters may hold private conversations about his debate performance, it's highly doubtful that the matter will be brought up during official sessions. Nevertheless, the debate is expected to have a lasting impression on how people view Biden's leadership, both at home and abroad, in the run-up to the US presidential election.
In response to questions on how worries about Biden's debate performance could overshadow the summit, US officials and the White House have attempted to shift attention back to the real agenda of the summit. During her remarks, White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre lauded the summit for its historic importance and highlighted the role of NATO in promoting global unity and security during Biden's leadership.
"Next week, in Washington, DC, the historic summit is to mark the 75th anniversary of NATO's founding," Jean-Pierre announced, noting that the alliance has been instrumental in ensuring global security for the past seventy-five years. "Our Alliance is stronger, larger, and more united than ever before under the president's leadership,"..
