A summit of European leaders in Budapest on Thursday saw a palpable sense of unease as they grappled with the prospect of a second Trump presidency and its potential impact on trans-Atlantic relations, The Associated Press reports.
With Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelensky and NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte in attendance, the gathering aimed to reassess the geopolitical landscape and solidify a unified European stance.
While some, like Rutte, expressed cautious optimism about working with Trump, anxieties remain high following his first term’s contentious policies. Trump’s past threats of trade wars, withdrawal from NATO commitments, and a fundamental shift in Ukraine support have sent shockwaves across Europe, leaving many wary of the potential consequences.
The summit, hosted by Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, a staunch Trump supporter, saw a flurry of diplomatic activity, with leaders seeking to understand Trump’s intentions. Orbán, who reportedly spoke with Trump prior to the summit, proclaimed “big plans for the future!” while Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni lauded the “deep and historic strategic partnership” between Rome and Washington.
However, the past four years have shown that this partnership is fragile. Trump’s administration implemented tariffs on EU steel and aluminum, leading to retaliatory measures from European allies. This trade dispute, alongside broader disagreements on issues like climate change and migration, has strained trans-Atlantic relations.
The war in Ukraine adds another layer of complexity. Trump’s pledge to end the conflict “within 24 hours” of reelection has raised concerns in Kyiv, who fear a peace deal negotiated from a position of weakness and potentially involving territorial concessions to Russia.
The summit also coincides with a deepening political crisis in Germany, Europe’s economic powerhouse. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s firing of his finance minister has triggered a political upheaval, potentially leading to an election in the coming months. This adds another source of uncertainty to the already complex geopolitical landscape.
