#Biden meets with EU leaders following NATO China statement

President Biden is meeting with European Union leaders in Brussels as part of a US-EU summit Tuesday morning, where leaders will announce the formation of a joint council to better address China’s predatory economic practices — following a lukewarm communique on the ascendant communist power from the NATO alliance.

“America is back,” the US commander-in-chief repeated after arriving at the summit, “We have never fully left, but we are reasserting the fact it is overwhelmingly in the interest of the United States to have a great relationship with NATO and with the EU.”

Without referencing former President Donald Trump by name, the 46th US president went on to note that he had “a very different view than my predecessor” on the two major alliances — highlighting his departure from an American-interest centered agenda in favor of one that ostensibly aligns American interest with global priorities.

Calling it “great news” to welcome the US back to previous foreign policy positions more focused on matters of global interest, European Council President Charles Michel replied, “You are back in Brussels and America is back on the global scene.”

Speaking to reporters Monday, a senior Biden administration official previewed what to expect from the meetings, including the launch of the Trade and Technology Council, which would combat Chinese economic and technological aggression by coordinating on standards for new technologies from the West.

“China poses a significant challenge in both of these areas,” the Biden official said, “And dealing with China’s non-market practices, its economic abuses, and, of course, its efforts to shape the rules of the road on technology for the 21st century will be important — an important part of the work of this council.”

Also on the agenda are the topics of global health security and economic recovery, climate change and strengthening democracy.

Biden’s EU meeting comes on the heels of his highly-anticipated summit Wednesday with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Geneva, Switzerland.

Much has been made about the first face-to-face meeting between the two leaders, especially given the tense state of US-Russia relations.