Countries around the world are getting ready for the possible return of Donald Trump as the US president after the US Presidential elections which are to be held on 5 November. They’re worried about his doubts about NATO, his right-wing views, and his focus on challenging China. NATO allies and other leaders are preparing in three main ways.
First, they’re reaching out diplomatically to Trump and his advisors. They’re meeting with them to try and influence Trump to support NATO and increase defense spending in Europe.
Secondly, countries are adjusting their policies to meet Trump’s demands, especially regarding higher defense spending in Europe. Many NATO nations already spend 2% or more of their GDP on defense, driven by both Trump’s pressure and concerns heightened after Russia’s attempted invasion of Ukraine on 24 February, 2022.
Thirdly, leaders are developing creative diplomatic and legal strategies to protect NATO priorities from potential disruptions under a Trump administration. This includes proposals to transfer control of NATO assistance to Ukraine from direct US oversight, potentially making it more secure by involving NATO directly.
Despite getting ready, there’s still uncertainty about what a second Trump presidency would be like. Unlike before, when people hoped things would get better, now countries are planning ahead to deal with whatever Trump might do. They know Trump could bring surprises, especially without the advice of his previous advisors.
People worry about Trump criticizing how NATO shares costs and preferring deals between two countries instead of many. But there’s hope that talking to him early and meeting his demands could prevent problems.
Overall, there’s no widespread fear of the US leaving NATO, but allies are focused on boosting their own defenses and aligning policies with what a Trump administration might want. They’re not just preparing but also trying to influence Trump’s views on NATO and global security.
In essence, the world is carefully preparing and engaging early in case Donald Trump becomes president again, aiming to be strong and flexible in a changing world.
