Europe Responds to the 2020 U.S. Election international institutions and Merkel’s push for better trade deals in China under the new EUChina trade agreement. In considering the responses of other key players in Europe, such as Turkey, Switzerland, Russia, Serbia, Kosovo, and Albania, not primarily grouped by region due to trends, it’s important to note that each country possesses a unique history with the U.S. that has and will continue to influence relations between them. Despite the non-EU status of the first three listed, as well as the still-pending candidacy of the three Western Balkan states, these countries demonstrate the interconnectedness of European affairs with their neighbors and the world.
Further European Responses TURKEY
In recent years, Turkish relations with the U.S. have become strained over disputes on Syrian policy, Russia, and the democratic erosion spearheaded by President of Turkey Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. Despite such differences, amiability persisted between the U.S. and Turkey, buoyed by a friendship between Trump and Erdoğan based on their ideological similarities. In the build-up to the election, Turkey publicly pledged to support whoever won and followed through, congratulating Biden on his victory.112 However, some analysts believe a Biden presidency could ultimately end up harming U.S.-Turkey relations because of Biden’s strong anti-authoritarian rhetoric, which is likely to clash with Erdoğan’s authoritarian leanings.113 Nevertheless, public support of Biden and condemnation of the January 6 riots could indicate a renewed Turkish effort to appear in line with Europe’s values and to revive consideration for EU accession, particularly now that Turkey-U.S. relations cannot count on a Trump-Erdoğan relationship. EU accession has long been a Turkish goal, and many EU countries also stand to benefit from this possibility, given Turkey’s trade leverage and strategic location. However, there are several major roadblocks to Turkish admittance to the EU, including the fact that the majority of their landmass is in Asia, objections to a potential rise in Turkish immigration to elsewhere
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