Trump has bluntly said that if he becomes president, he will stop American aid to Ukraine. Apart from this, his opinion about NATO is that in this military alliance, Europe will have to bear the expenses in proportion to its security.
The news of Donald Trump’s victory in the US could not have come at a worse time for the current government led by the Social Democrats in Germany. Germany’s Chancellor Olof Scholz’s own government has faltered due to increased conflict with an ally. There is a general possibility that parliamentary elections will be held next March. At present the popularity of the far-right AfD party is on the rise. Now Trump’s victory will provide a new ideological dose to Europe’s far right. As soon as the news of Trump’s victory came on Wednesday, there were signs of intensification of turmoil in Europe. French President Emmanuel Macron said on social media site X that he has spoken to the German Chancellor regarding the results of the US presidential election.
He wrote- ‘In this new context, we will work together towards a more united, stronger, more sovereign Europe.’ The biggest concern for Europe is Trump’s stance regarding the Ukraine war. Trump has been bluntly saying that if he becomes president, he will immediately stop American aid to Ukraine. Apart from this, his old opinion about NATO remains intact that in this military alliance, the European countries will have to bear their expenses in proportion to the security they get from this alliance. European leaders are of the opinion that if Trump implements both these announcements, it will upset all their calculations.
European leaders have shown great enthusiasm in providing assistance to Ukraine. Now they cannot show negligence in that. As election results were being announced in the US, German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock was seen with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and Ukrainian military officials. He wrote in a post assuring Ukraine on We will stay with you. Your safety is our safety. Now Europe’s eyes are fixed on what stance Trump will take on such a stance.