NATO allies brace for possible Trump backlash after US midterms
Photo: US President Donald Trump (Getty Images)
European countries fear that the results of the US midterm elections could lead to renewed tensions with Washington. If Republicans lose ground in Congress, President Donald Trump could step up his criticism of NATO, reports Politico.
According to five NATO diplomats, European allies are preparing for the worst-case scenario following the US elections.
They are concerned that if Republicans lose control of Congress, Trump could face obstacles in domestic policy. In that case, the president, who also serves as commander-in-chief of the US military, could shift his focus to foreign policy decisions, where he has greater freedom of action.
This could mean the withdrawal of thousands more troops from Europe, three of the diplomats said.
"Usually what happens to lame duck presidents is a mix of venting frustrations and adventurism in foreign policy," one senior European defense official said.
According to him, criticism of NATO has long been "a consistent part of [the] Trump worldview."
How Trump could respond to a Republican defeat
In the US, Democrats are expected to win a majority in the House of Representatives and possibly shift the balance of power in the Senate. Against this backdrop, Trump's approval rating has fallen to its lowest level of his presidency.
In Europe, there are fears that dissatisfaction with the election results could affect relations with allies. Tensions between the US and European countries have already increased following the suspension of US support for Ukraine through the Starlink satellite communications system, as well as against the backdrop of Trump's growing rapprochement with Russian dictator Vladimir Putin.
Additional concern stems from the upcoming review of the number of US troops stationed in Europe, which is due to be completed by December. Three NATO diplomats suggested that if Trump encounters difficulties advancing his domestic legislative agenda, he could opt for a more substantial reduction in the military contingent to win support from MAGA movement supporters.
Another possible scenario would be to make the continued presence of US troops on the continent conditional on European countries agreeing to a peace deal for Ukraine backed by Washington.
Trump could reduce US contributions to NATO's common budget and limit Washington's participation in the PURL program, through which allies purchase US weapons for Ukraine. Diplomats also do not rule out further deepening of ties between the US and Russia.
Earlier, the Donald Trump administration began preparing for a possible shift in control of Congress to the Democrats following the midterm elections. The White House is already looking for ways to continue implementing the president's agenda without lawmakers' support, including through executive actions.
Trump could lean toward a large-scale military operation against Iran if the Republican Party performs poorly in the midterm congressional elections.
