Officially we are preparing both possible US presidents from January onwards. But it says a lot about the mood in the EU Commission in Brussels that the high-ranking troopswho is in charge of these preparations, in internal jargon „Trump task force“ is called.
The shock is deep
The Shock of the first Trump presidency is deeply felt by many EU politicians. A president who unceremoniously takes Europe with him Punitive tariffs, for example for steel and aluminumdocumented and that NATO defense alliance in question that was a rude wake-up call for many. This time you definitely want to be better prepared. “We will strike back quickly and hard”says an EU diplomat confidently.
So if Donald Trump actually moves into the White House, people want to have the plans for this counterattack already in the drawer. Namely in the EU Commissioni.e. the EU institution act fastest can – at least in the areas in which you are particularly concerned with economic issues chronically disunited EU states cannot interfere. Tariffs imposed at short notice are one such case. That’s why several directorates general in the EU Commission are racking their brains about it. The The office of commission chief Ursula von der Leyen is in charge of coordination drawn to itself, a clear indication, for how serious and how urgent you keep the matter.
The delicate question of China
Those too Member States want to be heard on these issues at their regular meetings Ambassador in Brussels The topic of the US election was put on the agenda several times at short notice.
Because in the for Exporting nations Like Germany or Austria, trade issues that are so important, the EU has to manage a delicate balancing act. They have just – against the resistance of the car giant Germany – Punitive tariffs against Chinese cars imposed.
The next US president will definitely be one harder line against Beijing drive – and that no matter whether Kamala Harris or Donald Trump sits in the White House. Trump will demand a similar line from Europe, which he openly attacked during the election campaign as “little China”. Punitive tariffs against cars from Europe The Republican has already threatened unless they are prepared to join forces with Washington against China. But Europe cannot afford this harshness and could therefore accept the trade conflict with the USA rather than the one with China. “Trump could persuade Europe to take a more conciliatory stance towards China,” trade expert Noah Barkin told Euronews.
Who is helping Ukraine?
But that one Trade is not the only conflict zone, in which Europe will find itself with a President Trump. The Republican has made it clear that he wants to end the war in Ukraine quickly, even if it means giving up territory to Russia. Europe wants that Ukraine continue to help fight this war, it will probably have to do it alone – without US weapons and without US billions.
One serious and expensive decisionespecially in times of a weak economy and tight budgets in Europe. The goal of finally stepping out of the shadow of the USA in terms of military and armaments technology is currently mentioned in every Sunday speech in Brussels. But if you want to put it into practice, the question starts with the question joint financing of these weapons is the dispute between the member states. The argument about this could start as early as dinner in Budapest sensitive topic of money At least that’s what the largely meaningless formulations on which we have so far reached a tentative agreement suggest.
Here a Trump in the White House, there a divided Europewhich cannot bring itself to finally take a clear course. That’s that Nightmare scenariothat concerns the diplomats in Brussels – and some of them even find it healing, at least away from the cameras. The “bitter pill” called Trump, they believe, could finally unite Europe.