Politico: Could Trump’s return spell disaster for transatlantic ties?

A recent Politico article argues that victory in the U.S. presidential election by Donald Trump, who has questioned the future of American support for Kyiv and hesitated to express a desire for Ukraine's success in the ongoing war, could plunge U.S.-European relations into crisis overnight.

In essence, Europe currently lacks the leadership and resources needed to compensate for a potential U.S. withdrawal of support for Ukraine. Furthermore, given Trump's previous suggestions about leaving NATO, a win for him might drive countries like Germany to prioritize their own security over continued assistance to Ukraine.

Germans remain acutely aware of Trump's 2016-2020 presidency and his unusual fixation on their nation. During his tenure, Trump frequently clashed with former German Chancellor Angela Merkel over issues related to security and trade. One notable incident occurred at a G7 meeting in 2018 when Trump tossed two pieces of candy toward Merkel and quipped, “Here, Angela, don’t say I never gave you anything.”

As his presidency drew to a close, Trump grew increasingly frustrated with Germany’s insufficient defence spending, leading him to order the Pentagon to withdraw approximately 12,000 American troops stationed in Germany, a reduction of about one-third of the total presence. President Biden later reversed this decision.

Given this context, it's hardly surprising that over 80 per cent of Germans believe a Trump reelection would adversely affect transatlantic relations, according to a recent survey conducted by Körber Stiftung, a German foundation.

By Tamilla Hasanova