Covid-19 Impact on Transatlantic Relations: A Wake-up Call?

Although transatlantic relations had many disagreements before the COVIC-19, the pandemic accelerated tensions in transatlantic relations even more. President Trump’s decision to impose a travel ban against Europe without any prior consultations with Europeans; US lack of interest in multilateral efforts (for instance, withholding funding for WHO that German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas compared to “throwing the pilot out the plane”); Americans allegedly trying to acquire exclusive rights to a vaccine of a German manufacturer contributed to transatlantic disarray and brought out US-EU limitations in coping with global challenges. The inauguration of the new US president Joe Biden, however, is perceived as a new chapter in transatlantic relations. According to the High Representative of the European Union Josep Borrell, Joe Biden‘s presidency gives the EU a unique opportunity to work together again to tackle a variety of global challenges, COVID-19 pandemic included. The paper aims to assess the COVID-19 pandemic impact on transatlantic relations focusing on several aspects: diplomatic domain, defence domain, and transatlantic community capabilities to respond to challenges posed by Russia and China. How COVID-19 affected transatlantic military exercises, military expenditures, and defence programs? Will J. Biden administration be willing to strengthen joint transatlantic efforts to address global challenges? Has transatlantic disarray caused by COVID-19 increased Russia and China‘s footprint in Europe? Did COVID-19 alter Europeans‘ views towards the US? The paper attempts to answer these and other questions.