Elena Buturlim19:54, 16.07.24

Europeans fear that the “America First” administration will stop supporting Ukraine.

The choice of ardent isolationist J.D. Vance as his running mate has cemented European fears that a second term for Donald Trump would sharply weaken transatlantic security ties, raise tariffs and end critical U.S. support for Ukraine, the Financial Times reports .

Trump’s choice has heightened concerns among US allies that he intends to lead a protectionist “America First” administration, with huge implications for Europe’s defence and economic security.

“If Trump is elected and continues the policies favoured by Vance, he could declare the end of NATO, or at least US leadership of it. That would be a signal to Russia to reassert the power it has gained over the past decade in its dealings with China and to apply more coercion against NATO. We are entering a very dark period indeed,” said Rob Johnson, who recently resigned as director of the UK Ministry of Defence’s NATO division.

Trump’s lead in the polls and Joe Biden’s poor performance in the first televised debate have already unnerved European capitals, which fear the Republican will return to the White House. Reacting to Vance’s appointment as Trump’s next vice president, Guy Verhofstadt, a member of the European Parliament and former Belgian Prime Minister, said there would be “more champagne” in the Kremlin . He added: “Are Europe and the UK already preparing or are they still shuffling deck chairs on the Titanic?”

In another sign of possible transatlantic tensions, Vance suggested in his speech that Britain under a new Labour government could become an “Islamist country.” This year, Trump said London had become “unrecognisable” because it had “opened its doors to jihad,” a reference to pro-Palestinian protests.

Many European officials fear Trump will impose broad tariffs on imports and hurt the EU economy, the reporters said, and are concerned about the impact of his policies on NATO and the war in Ukraine.

At the same time, Vance has repeatedly called on Ukraine to cede territory to end the war. He argued that such a settlement would be in Washington’s best interests. “A person who openly stated that Ukraine would have to give up part of its territory to the Russians cannot be the best representative of US policy. Russia is our common enemy. Vance’s election is a clear signal to us,” said Ukrainian MP Inna Sovsun.

Trump allies such as Vance and Ric Grenell, who is considered a leading contender to become secretary of state, have signaled they will seek to move away from indefinite support for Kyiv.

Trump’s Vice Presidential Nominee

American political scientist Vladislav Faraponov advises not to overestimate the position of vice president in the United States after the decision of Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump to name J.D. Vance as his choice for the position.

Ohio Senator J.D. Vance, who is running for US vice president if Donald Trump wins, has a good chance of leading the country in 2028.

(C)UNIAN 2024