Jacques Serais (special envoy to Brussels), edited by Solène Leroux with AFP 2:02 p.m., March 24, 2022

A month after the start of the conflict in Ukraine, Brussels is hosting three summits this Thursday: NATO, the G7 and the European Union.

While Joe Biden arrived last night in Brussels for the occasion, what does the presence of the American president mean?

Europe 1 takes stock.

As the Russian invasion of Ukraine enters its second month, the diplomatic activity of the Western world is played out today in Brussels with three summits: the NATO summit, that of the G7 and finally that of the European Union. .

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky called on NATO to provide his country with "unrestricted military aid" to deal with the Russian army.

According to a senior American official, the West plans to deliver anti-ship missiles to Ukraine.

The American president, for his part, arrived last night in Brussels.

What does Joe Biden's presence mean?

What does the United States expect from these meetings?

Europe 1 takes stock.

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This coming of the American president is not only a symbol: Joe Biden also has interests there.

Faced with the threats hanging over Europe, the United States wants to assert its leadership, and this is the whole purpose of the NATO summit and the extraordinary meeting of the G7 which are being held in Brussels this Thursday.

Financial and military interests

For weeks, Joe Biden has been insisting on a firm response from the Western bloc against Russia, sometimes raising tension with Vladimir Putin.

By the same token, he pushes the Europeans into the arms of Uncle Sam, first on military issues.

This NATO summit aims to strengthen the presence of the armed forces within the countries of the Alliance located in Eastern Europe, which means more American soldiers on European soil.

But where will European defenses get their supplies?

The United States is pulling out all the stops to sign contracts, such as the deal Germany signed to buy American F-35 planes earlier this month.

This, even as the European Union tries to build a Europe of defence.

Finally, on the question of energy, Joe Biden also finds an interest there.

If he pushes the Europeans to do without Russian gas, he knows that he has plenty to spare.