EU develops strategy to support Ukraine in case of Trump's re-election
Donald Trump (Getty Images)
The European Commission has established a special task force to prepare for the possible return of Donald Trump to the White House. This group is developing a strategy in case of a sudden shift in Washington's stance on free trade and support for Ukraine, according to the Financial Times.
Three informed sources revealed that the group is also assessing the impact of a potential Kamala Harris presidency and preparing for policy changes following the US elections in November. One source said that the goal is to determine what the consequences might be in any scenario.
The team was formed by the office of the European Commission's Secretary-General Ilze Juhansone and includes a small number of officials representing key directorates in trade, competition, and external relations.
Brussels is concerned that Trump may impose painful tariffs on EU exports, halt support for Ukraine, and pressure Kyiv to agree to Moscow's terms for ending the war.
European allies are worried about Trump's threats to withdraw the US from NATO or undermine the mutual defense provisions for countries he believes are not spending enough on defense.
The EU committee plans to intensify its work in September and increase engagement with member state governments to assess the EU's potential vulnerabilities and ways to mitigate negative consequences. Special attention will be given to developing communication plans in case of significant policy changes in the US, such as the need for EU taxpayers to contribute more to Ukraine's defense.
The European Commission has said that it is preparing for the US elections and is considering all possible scenarios, reaffirming its commitment to a close partnership with the US.
Germany's Foreign Ministry has also set up a similar group to prepare for a possible second Trump presidency, officials told the Financial Times.
Amid the US election, senior EU officials are attempting to establish contacts with people close to Kamala Harris and Donald Trump, including former economic adviser Mike Pyle and national security adviser Phil Gordon.
For Brussels, a Harris presidency does not necessarily mean full continuity with Biden, particularly on the issue of aid to Ukraine. Trump's promises to end the war immediately could influence US public opinion on the conflict, even if he loses the election.
The main question for the EU committee is what Trump's return could mean for Europe's economy.
Replacement of Biden with Harris
In July, current US President Joe Biden withdrew his candidacy from the presidential race for the upcoming November elections.
He proposed Vice President Kamala Harris as his replacement. Notably, Harris had a rating of over 45% even before her candidacy was announced.
It is currently known that Harris leads Trump in four out of seven key states.
