Europe calls to prepare for US withdrawal from NATO after Trump's return

The prospect of Trump's return to power after the US election is raising concerns in Europe about continued US support for Ukraine and NATO allies. According to The Telegraph, diplomats in NATO countries believe that European capitals need to prepare a plan and review their current defense capabilities.

One European diplomat told The Telegraph that Trump's controversial statements, including his refusal to help allies in the event of a Russian attack, are "a concern."

"Nobody knows what he's going to do next," the diplomat said, adding that NATO countries should develop a scenario to reduce the alliance's dependence on the United States.

A diplomat from another NATO country said that countries like Britain should take even more of a lead in European security, as a possible U.S. withdrawal from NATO would create a "massive gap."

A third diplomat spoken to by The Telegraph saw a positive side to the fear of a US withdrawal from NATO. In his opinion, such uncertainty will make European countries think more about their own defense planning: "Is it adequate or not?"

US election and the possibility of Trump's return

This November, the US will hold the presidential election. Current President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump are likely to run for the presidency. The latter became the only candidate from the Republican Party as a result of the primaries.

However, Trump has not only managed to deal with competitors within his party but also demonstrates a confident, several percentage points advantage over Joe Biden. More importantly, Trump is not just outpacing Biden in terms of public support but is also ahead in virtually all swing states, which in the American electoral system determine the winner.

Read more about this in RBC-Ukraine's article Storm brewing: How Donald Trump approaches his second presidential term in US.