On the strategic challenges facing the transatlantic alliance—Russia’s revanchism, China’s global rise, instability in the Middle East—it is not clear that Biden will have a natural go-to partner that can authoritatively speak for Europe.

The traditional partnership between the U.S. and Europe is under duress. A step forward on areas of agreement must be found despite current challenges.

Europeans have, on paper, been able to make significant strides on defense cooperation over the past year.