On some points, there would undoubtedly be differences between Kamala Harris and Donald Trump, with regard to the relationship with European integration. Harris would be more positive and more loyal. Trump is not convinced that European integration is a positive project for the stability of transatlantic ties. But we must be aware that there are also points where I hardly see any big differences between the two candidates. Economically, we are experiencing a lot of difficulties with the United States, regarding access to the American market for our companies, customs tariffs, state aid, etc. There would be differences in tone, few in substance. Next, the top priority for the United States is competition with China. We have a strong bond with the United States, but we must defend our own interests on the world stage. For example, I am convinced that, as the European Union, we have a particular role to play with regard to the Global South.
American presidential election seen from kyiv: “If it’s Trump, it’s even worse. He’s friends with Putin!”
US support for Ukraine will depend on who wins the US presidential election… What if Trump wins?
Even with Joe Biden, who committed to Ukraine, we saw that without a strong European position, US support would have been less. That’s a certainty. If Trump is elected, it will possibly have consequences for Ukraine and the security of Europe. But even if Harris is elected, American society will remain divided on this subject. We must be ready to take more responsibility to ensure our safety. On this point, I agree with Trump. It is not just a question of the amount of defense spending, but also of developing our industrial capacity. It is not a question of no longer buying American, but we must build a defense ecosystem in Europe connected with our allies.
Europe will not be a bird for the cat if Donald Trump is elected?
We are not a bird for the cat. Whether the president is Trump, Harris, Pierre, Paul or Jacques, American society has a vital interest in the United States having strong alliances. And if there is a reliable ally for the United States, it is the European Union.
Europe prefers Harris to Trump, but whatever happens, the relationship with the United States will remain complex
European leaders, such as Hungary’s Viktor Orban, criticize support for Ukraine. Should we fear that it will be increasingly difficult to maintain the level of Union commitment to kyiv that we have known for almost three years?
It has now been two and a half years since this war began. We have lived more than three months in three months, telling ourselves each time that it would be difficult, in the next three months, to maintain the support of the population and therefore of governments on the idea that we must support the ‘Ukraine. And it’s been two and a half years since we spent each European Council not reducing, but strengthening support for Ukraine. And often by making decisions that we thought were very difficult or perhaps even impossible a month earlier or two months earlier. If you look at financial support for military support, the trend has been towards strengthening. Rather, it was Orban who followed by giving his opinion publicly but not blocking the decisions.
War in Ukraine: Viktor Orban has his own strategy to end the conflict
Is the European Union showing a double standard by condemning Russia’s actions in Ukraine but less so Israel’s violations of international law?
Each European Council strongly affirms the need to respect international law and humanitarian law, as well as the fact that a war crime is a war crime, whoever the perpetrator is, wherever it is committed. is committed. That being said, I observe that there are more and more European leaders who want to put on the table the discussion on (the suspension, Editor’s note) the association agreement with Israel. There is no ambiguity: we condemned and I condemn the abject attack which was carried out by Hamas (October 7, 2023, Editor’s note) and we call for the release of the hostages. But at the same time, we call for a ceasefire and we support all those who are very committed to this.
EU countries participating in UNIFIL want to exert ‘maximum pressure’ on Israel
International law must be respected and I think that the EU must use more of the means at its disposal to encourage everyone, including the Israeli government, to respect international law, to be positive in allowing a ceasefire, to stop regional escalation. That said, one of the great difficulties in this region is the way Iran behaves. He uses proxy for the purposes of destabilization – Hamas, Hezbollah, the Houtis – uses the threat of nuclear ambition and wants to destroy Israel. For many European countries, there is, on the one hand, the desire not to weaken Israel against Iran but at the same time demand that Israel respect international law. It is a complex situation because our populations in Europe are feeling the tremors of the polarization linked to this conflict.
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