Over the course of the presidential campaign, he has also emphasized his desire to strengthen allies, to confront illiberalism, and to rejoin the United States in the Paris climate accord. [...] At minimum, a key aim for Washington has been the preservation of the balance of power in Europe in order to prevent a single power that can challenge the United States to emerge. [...] This grand strategic goal will certainly remain true, but the post-Cold War peace dividend in Europe and the rise of China have combined to push the United States to turn its attention increasingly to the Indo-Pacific. [...] He promised his country to be again “ready to lead the world, not retreat from it.” The very fact that a des- ignated president of the United States deemed it necessary to affirm Ameri- ca’s newly re-found leadership role and the relief with which his words were greeted by US allies all around the world speak to the dire state of affairs during previous years. [...] Terrorism, mass migration and new emerging threats To the supreme threat of geopolitical competition comes the concerning fra- gility and insecurity of Europe’s neighbourhood, mostly in Libya, Iraq and Syria but also in farther theatres such as the Horn of Africa and Afghanistan – where Russia and to a lesser degree China exploit instability and aggravate the situation.