The US was a supporter of the creation of the European Union, firstly because Europe and the US share the same values and have a close relationship in cultural, economic, social and political matters. Diplomatic relations between EU and US began in 1961 when the US established the US Mission to the European Union.
Because of its challenges, the US and EU made new partnerships in new matters, such as the threat of proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, international terrorism, peace in the middle east and economic growth. New agendas were built, like the NTA - New Transatlantic Agenda, that had four major fields: Peace, responding to global challenges, expansion of world trade and build bridges.