Biden’s uncertain future set to overshadow NATO summit as concerns about Trump winning election grow

When dozens of world leaders convene in Washington, DC for the NATO 75th anniversary summit next week, they won’t only be looking to underscore the unity of the alliance – they will also be carefully watching US President Joe Biden after his poor debate performance last week.

When dozens of world leaders convene in Washington, DC, for the NATO 75th anniversary summit next week, they won’t only be looking to underscore the unity of the alliance — they will also be carefully watching US President Joe Biden after his poor debate performance last week. Biden’s showing at the CNN presidential debate was met with shock and concern by diplomats around the world. Now, the president will be under immense pressure to perform well at the high-stakes gathering and show that he is still a viable competitor to former President Donald Trump, multiple diplomats told CNN. The concern is compounded because many believe Trump poses a threat to the future of NATO. He publicly railed against the alliance during his first term in office and did so again recently on the campaign trail, even going as far as suggesting Russia “do whatever the hell they want” to members who don’t meet defense spending targets. Questions about Biden and his political future inject further uncertainty into a summit where key allies are also dealing with major political changes. The Labour Party took power in the United Kingdom overnight for the first time in more than a decade, putting a new prime minister — Keir Starmer — in place just days before the start of the summit on Tuesday. On Sunday, the second round of French parliamentary elections is taking place, which could potentially lead to a far-right prime minister taking office in a massive defeat to President Emmanuel Macron’s coalition. Back in the US, the Biden administration and the president himself have acknowledged that the debate was a bad night for Biden. However, they have downplayed its impact on allies. “What the world knows, the world has experienced over three and a half years — not one night — is exactly the kind of leadership that he’s brought to bear on problems that are common for so many countries, particularly so many of the democracies around the world,” Secretary of State Antony Blinken said at an event at the Brookings Institute on Monday.