Donald Trump's victory in the U.S. elections could significantly alter the balance of power on the international stage, leaving Europe to face security challenges alone.
If Trump opts to collaborate with Russia to "surrender" Ukraine, it could deal a serious blow to NATO and the cohesion of the West, believes Bloomberg columnist Max Hastings.
The current European defense system still largely relies on financial support from the United States, which covers nearly two-thirds of NATO's budget. However, after Trump's inauguration, Washington may cut these expenses, forcing European countries to independently increase their defense budgets.
"The days when Europeans could look to the U.S. as their shield are over. Joe Biden is likely to be the last president who viewed the security of the continent as a vital interest – even the dominant external interest – of the U.S. Strategic confrontation with China will dominate Washington's policy in the coming years," Hastings predicts.
The expert notes that many Europeans still naively believe they can simply disengage from wars. However, he argues that this approach is dangerous, as countries like China, Russia, and Iran continue to actively use violence as a means to achieve political goals.
Hastings also believes that European support for Ukraine may be at risk, as he states that "the West's willingness to arm Ukrainians is gradually waning." In the event of a cessation of U.S. aid, Kyiv would find itself in a critical situation, and, as the author suggests, this could lead to Ukraine's defeat.
Source: bloomberg