Although it is still not known what specific steps the newly elected American President Donald Trump will take, it is clear that the results of the presidential elections in the United States will certainly have consequences for Europe, and especially for its security situation. The leaders of European countries are well aware of this, gathered at the summit in Budapest, just one day after Trump's victory, just so that Trump's ally Viktor Orban and the right-wing populist parties can rejoice.
On the other hand, the leaders of the European Union and most of the member states have almost expressed concern about Trump's election. Instead of the usual congratulations written with chosen words, as the practice dictates, Brussels, Berlin and Paris sent a formal congratulations without any diplomatic enthusiasm and hope for a better future, which is the usual ornate style when congratulating someone on winning elections. The reticence of the European Union due to Trump's coming to power is evident in the statement of Ursula von der Leyen, who said that the EU will "cooperate with the new Trump administration". Best of all, they won't! Restraint is visible in the congratulation of the President of the European Council, Charles Michel, who said that the EU wants to strengthen relations with Washington "on the basis of mutual respect". But in the statement of the Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk, one can already feel the concern. He said that we must be ready for changes, and whether they will mean Washington's turn towards Russia, NATO and the war in Ukraine, he says that at the moment no one knows. Although no one has to fear that Trump will dissolve NATO. Moreover, Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama reminded that the North Atlantic Treaty Organization has become even stronger after Trump.
It is mutual respect that will hurt Brussels the most in relations with the Trump administration. A long time ago, Trump told the European members of NATO (and Taiwan) that he would charge for their protection, by which he meant the allocation of more funds from the national defense budgets, given that almost no European member of the North Atlantic Alliance has yet reached the agreed two percent of GDP for armaments and defense purposes. If Trump relaxes military aid to Ukraine, which is expected, European countries will have to continue supplying Ukraine with ammunition and weapons because they have committed themselves to this, which will further deplete the already devastated military stocks of European countries that sent Ukraine everything they could, and the new they haven't got it yet. Therefore, immediately after her arrival in Budapest, the head of the European Commission said almost resignedly that "the future of Europe is in her hands, that she must take responsibility and preserve unity". It's as if the European Union's ships have sunk because of Trump's return to power.
Trump's victory was greeted coldly and with restraint by Western European leaders, as if it was the appointment of a new general secretary of the Soviet Union, so it would be time to send a few polite sentences, like the aforementioned Von der Layen statement, but also immediately warn of the need to solve future problems along with stating your own expectations.
It is a fact that Trump was fickle and unpredictable when he was president, but it is also a fact that the USA did not start any war under his leadership, which was his main motto in the last election, which he lost. He won these elections by promising to end the war in Ukraine. But you never know with Trump.
The return of Trump to power is an opportunity for Europe to start and take its defense into its own hands, and the US will always be there to "step in". Trump's victory is an opportunity for the European Union to be a more active global player because it is to be expected that Trump will turn to America, that is, represent American interests. French President Macron said that we cannot leave our (meaning European) security to the Americans and started calling for European unification. Which could shake certain members who are sympathetic to Russia, such as Hungary, which is joined by Slovakia. They are aware of this in Brussels, which is why calls for European unity and holding destiny in one's own hands are not surprising. The worst that Trump's coming to power could do is disunite the European Union.
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