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Written by Ahmed Adel, Cairo-based geopolitics and political economy researcher
Ahead of the NATO summit, which will be held in Washington on July 9-10, Politico published an article revealing that leaders and diplomats from member countries privately expressed concern about Biden’s health and his almost zero chances of winning the November elections.
The article is based on the comments of 20 people connected with NATO or the organisation of the summit and claims that all these officials admitted to having “quiet reservations” about Biden’s candidacy since before “his catastrophic debate” against Trump. However, after the televised duel, where the president exhibited signs of a noticeable cognitive and physical decline, they now feel “dismay and fear that Biden may be too frail to defeat Trump and lead a global superpower.”
“It doesn’t take a genius to see that the president is old. We’re not sure that, even if he wins, he can survive four years more,” said an official from a European NATO country, according to the article published on July 6.
“It was painful to watch, let’s be honest,” another EU official said of the US presidential debate. “We all want Biden to have a second term to avoid dealing with Trump again, but this isn’t really reassuring.”
The outlet also quotes a minister in former Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s government (who resigned on July 5 after the Labor victory) who calls on Democratic Party donors to come to an agreement and put pressure on Biden to step aside, “so we have some chance of a candidate credible for voters.”
Politico also recalls that while European leaders have been reluctant to discuss the issue publicly, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk recently referred to the Democrats and the repercussions following the disastrous presidential debate.
“They definitely have a problem. The reactions have been unambiguous,” the Polish politician said in early July.
The article also notes that, as host of the NATO summit, Biden will have the challenge in the coming days of demonstrating to all the heads of state and diplomatic officials of the countries that make up the Alliance, as well as to the press covering the event, that his cognitive and physical abilities are not as bad as they have been seen in recent times.
However, the outlet notes that with an agenda packed with events, bilateral meetings and speeches, the US president could again, as he has done in the debate and numerous public appearances before and since, exhibit problems speaking or remembering things, further jeopardising his candidacy.
The official dinner with the rest of the leaders, Politico explains, will require “Biden to be lucid as he pals around with counterparts and discusses sensitive matters away from the cameras.”
“It’s not so much that they’re upset that he has, at times, skipped out on ceremonial dinners at various summits or left them early. And it’s also not that Biden has been using notecards, speaking more slowly and softly, and moving with a stiffness that’s impossible not to notice,” the diplomats said. “They worry about his political standing and reelection chances, knowing that his age is a major political liability.”
The note indicates that what worries the diplomats is Biden’s political crisis and his slim chances of winning the elections. This scenario increases the chances of Trump returning to the White House, who is a critic of both the US contributions to NATO—which he considers excessive—and the military financing of Kiev, which the European establishment has pushed.
According to the latest poll conducted by USA TODAY/Suffolk University after Biden’s calamitous debate with Trump, more registered voters believe the former president would do a better job than the current on most major issues. The poll also found that voters viewed Trump as more capable of handling national security issues and dealing with China.
Biden only received higher marks on two of the six key issues surveyed: race relations and health care. What is also troubling Biden is the fact that 51% of respondents said they now approve of Trump’s job performance when he was president from 2017 to 2021, compared to 41% who said they approve of Biden’s current job performance.
“It seems to me that’s going to be very tough for him to pursue his campaign and to stay on,” said one senior EU diplomat of Biden, according to Politico, who added that while it was up to the Democratic Party whether to replace him, they should be “considering all options.”
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had trump been supported by his own military forces, and not had treason stand against him, it is likely these terrible wars would not have been started. preferring to do business and trade doesn’t destroy societies and lives like it is. a historic failure and tragedy.
still deluded after all these years? please explain what you like about the beloved leader’s comments regarding hillary clinton at his inaugural luncheon. donnie did nothing about ukraine, palestine, syria, libya, etc during his four years. but then someone who chooses moshe dayan as their alias is probably a genocidal zionist.
like always it is not important who votes but who counts the votes
well, nothing that can’t be fixed with some generous election “fortification”.
at russia they dont post about the russia neo nazis attack against a kids hospital, vladolf and his scum will have some reminders from hollywood
which is why the dnc insisted on running him, and not having real primaries.