NATO, EU Call on Biden to Rebuild Transatlantic Relations

NATO Secretary-General and a senior European Union official have called on US President-elect Joe Biden to rebuild transatlantic ties and meet with Washington's European allies next year.

NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg and European Council President Charles Michel congratulated Biden, during phone calls with him, for his victory in the US presidential elections.

They invited him to visit the headquarters of the military alliance in Brussels, which is also the European Union headquarters that includes 27 countries.

According to a statement issued by the military alliance, Stoltenberg thanked Biden for "being a long-time supporter of NATO and the transatlantic relationship." Michel's office said he had suggested rebuilding strong transatlantic relations.

At a time when the European Union faces a historic setback after Britain left the bloc, the EU statement highlighted Biden's support for maintaining peace and stability on the sensitive Irish borders despite Brexit.

Biden said that London must respect its exit from the Union in 2020, because it protects peace on the island of Ireland, otherwise there will be no US trade agreement for Britain.