Prospect of Trump’s return to dominate European Security Summit
The coming U.S. presidential election, with the growing prospect of a return of Donald Trump to the White House, promises to have profound repercussions for Europe’s security, future trans-Atlantic relations and the conflict in Ukraine—changes with which European leaders are starting to grapple. Trump’s pick of Sen.
JD Vance (R., Ohio) as his running mate on Monday reinforced a sense in Europe that the former president’s return to office could mean a dramatic drop in U.S. aid for Ukraine and a push to force Kyiv into peace talks with the Kremlin. It could also mean a U.S.
pivot in defense priorities toward Asia to deter China that would leave Europe to increasingly fend for itself. At a meeting Thursday, European leaders from across the Continent will confront the challenges facing the region if the U.S. pulls away, including whether Europe can muster the unity and military muscle to check Russian aggression and keep Ukraine afloat.
The U.K.’s new prime minister, Keir Starmer, will host 45 leaders from the European Union and nearby countries such as Turkey and Ukraine, the fourth such meeting of the so-called European Political Community, an initiative driven by French President Emmanuel Macron following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022. The idea was to give the region beyond the 27-member EU a chance to talk over security issues and threats independent of allies such as the U.S. and potential foes such as Russia and China.
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