In kyiv, Donald Trump's victory poses a question of life and death: will the Republican billionaire, whose links with Vladimir Putin are assumed, cut aid to Ukraine, preventing it from winning its defensive war against the Russian invader? Making a brave face against bad luck, Volodymyr Zelensky welcomed the “impressive victory” of his new counterpart and said he hoped that it would promote the imposition of a “just peace” with Moscow.
The two men met in September in New York and the Ukrainian spoke of a “very good meeting”. But it is unclear whether Trump's plans on this issue, if they exist at all, will be compatible with the “victory plan” that Zelensky promoted in the West and which postulates both the continuation of military aid – which was criticized by Trump during the campaign – and Ukraine's membership in the Atlantic Alliance, which is a red flag for Russia.
Warning from Beijing
The Chinese authorities sent their “congratulations” to Trump while insisting on his desire not to comment on the Americans’ choice. China is, however, one of the countries most attentive to the evolution of its relationship with Washington, which had experienced a peak of tension during the first Trump mandate because of the heavy customs taxes then imposed by the billionaire on Chinese products. But this policy has not changed under Joe Biden, quite the contrary, and Beijing is waiting to see.
Trump has stated his intention to extend 60% taxes to all “made in China” products and the relaunch of the trade war is looming. The Chinese reaction insisting on “the principles of mutual respect, peaceful coexistence and mutually beneficial cooperation” therefore sounds as much like an outstretched hand as a warning. Deeming it unpredictable, Beijing is also waiting to know what Trump's attitude will be on the subject of Taiwan, after he criticized the nationalist island during the campaign.
Netanyahu satisfied
In Israel, on the other hand, Trump's re-election is welcomed by 66% of Israelis, who have excellent memories of “Trump 1”: had he not recognized Jerusalem as the capital and transferred the American embassy to the Holy City, all by sponsoring the Abraham Accords between Israel and several Arab countries, and avoiding condemning West Bank settlers? Delighted with the billionaire's return to business, Benjamin Netanyahu hopes to make him share his hard line on Iran and continue to benefit from American military support.
As for Europe, like China, it fears Trump's desire to protect the United States through protectionist measures. Except that Europeans know they are divided on the means to respond to a possible tightening of American customs duties. Hence the reaction of Emmanuel Macron who calls for a “more united, stronger, more sovereign” Europe, with the aim of preventing dispersed reactions which would only further weaken the Old Continent economically.
