German diplomats brace for potential Trump return as Biden bows out of 2024 race

Diplomats at the German Foreign Ministry are urgently preparing for the previously improbable scenario of Donald Trump returning to the White House, an event with potentially far-reaching consequences for Germany's global position.

In response, officials from various departments within the ministry—including the North America desk, the Policy Planning Staff, the office of the coordinator for transatlantic cooperation, and Germany’s embassy in Washington—have formed an informal crisis group. Their focus is on assessing the ramifications of a potential Trump victory in the upcoming US presidential election and strategizing how Berlin should respond, Caliber.Az writes via foreign media.

The group's latest agenda item emerged from a surprising political shift: President Joe Biden's decision, announced on Sunday, to withdraw from his re-election campaign. This move followed weeks of pressure from senior Democratic figures and resulted in Biden endorsing Vice President Kamala Harris as his successor.

Michael Link, Germany’s transatlantic coordinator and a member of the crisis group, highlighted the significance of this development. "It reopens the race for the presidency and injects a fundamentally different dynamic into the election campaign," Link stated.

Despite this change, many in Germany remain uncertain about the impact of Biden's withdrawal on the overall contest, especially in light of recent polling trends. Consequently, the preparation for a Trump victory continues, a prospect that evokes considerable apprehension in Berlin.

The potential implications for Germany are vast, influencing everything from NATO commitments and trade policies to climate agreements and diplomatic relations. As the U.S. election approaches, German diplomats are working diligently to ensure that they are prepared for any outcome, particularly one that could dramatically alter transatlantic relations.