‘Trump in the White House will make Europe vulnerable’
The whole world is watching the US presidential election closely. Dirk Wouters, Belgium's former ambassador to Washington, warns of a ‘Trump bis’.
A second term of Donald Trump will not only have a major impact on the US, but also on Europe. The advantage, according to the former ambassador, is that Europe and European leaders are now better prepared for what to expect from Trump.
In his first term Trump threatened to have the US leave NATO, but this time around this will be more difficult. He will be able to recall the 100,000 US soldiers stationed in Europe. In the conflict between Russia and Ukraine, Trump will want to cut a deal with Putin, without any say from Europe, NATO or Zelensky.
Not only militarily, but also economically, a ‘Trump bis’ will have huge consequences for Europe. Cooperation between the US and Europe creates 16 million direct and indirect jobs in Europe. If Trump levies tariffs on imports of goods, this will inevitably lead to fewer exports and thus possible job losses in Europe.
Still, the former ambassador does not see the future as completely bleak: ‘As ambassador to the US under president Trump, I have also always been able to work very well with individual states on the economic front. I don't see how that will change. Whoever is in the White House, those governors want to continue trading with Europe.’
(Fausto/Source: De Standaard/Illustration picture: Unsplash)