Merkel's White House visit will have symbolism and substance

Carl Bildt, former Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of Sweden, shares his perspective from Europe:

Why is the United Kingdom opening up and what's happening in the rest of Europe?

Well, I mean, my personal view is that there's an element of complacency in Europe and elsewhere. The Delta variant is spreading rather fast. We'll see an increase in infections in a number of countries. Remains to be seen how this will be handled.

What's going to be an outcome of the Angela Merkel visit in the White House?

Well, to some extent, it's a farewell visit. But I think there's going to be a lot of substance because the policies advocating and personified, to a certain extent by Angela Merkel, are going to be the policies that are going to be dominating Europe in the years ahead. Be that Russia, be that China, be that transatlantic relationship. So, symbolism certainly, but a lot of substance as well.