Mission to save Ukraine and NATO: Europe is preparing a plan in case of Trump's return

Mission to save Ukraine and NATO: Europe is preparing a plan in case Trump returns Victoria Kulzhenko

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In the United States, the election race continues between incumbent President Joseph Biden and his rival Donald Trump. Europe has begun to prepare a plan in case Trump wins the election in November.

The main problem is that it does not know what Trump will do, when he returns to power. Therefore, Europe is hastily preparing for the likely return of Donald Trump to the White House.

What could be a NATO strategy

Journalists interviewed more than 50 diplomats, legislators, experts and political strategists in NATO countries and other countries. A significant number of them spoke on condition of anonymity.

Joe Biden's disastrous debate performance has finally forced US allies to prepare for Trump's return to the White House.

In general, the strategy of the NATO countries in this case will be built on three positions:

• broad personal contacts with Trump and his advisors in the hope of minimizing harm to Western civilization;
• partial compliance with certain Trump demands regarding European defense spending;
• developing “creative diplomatic and legal measures” to protect NATO priorities from the Trump administration.

At the same time, there are certain difficulties with implementation.

Nobody knows what Trump will do

One of NATO country diplomats have spoken out about Trump.

Of course, the biggest problem is that we don't know – and I don't think anyone knows for sure doesn’t know what he will do,” he said.

Now in America many right-wing politicians and experts are announcing certain strategies, claiming that they speak on behalf of Trump, or that they discussed them with Trump. However, it remains unclear which of these people really represents Trump, and who is just promoting him.

The publication notes that the lesson that American allies learned from Trump’s first term is is that personal relationships with the former president and those closest to him are the most important.

During his presidency, Trump had warm relations with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson and North Korean dictator Kim Jong-un. According to Politico, each of them used this direct personal connection to their own advantage.

In recent weeks, several diplomats from NATO member countries have quietly traveled to Washington to meet with conservative scientists and people associated with think tanks who they believed could have some influence on Trump's policies. The meetings seemed productive, but it is unclear whether these people will actually stay there if Trump is elected president.

Ukraine is a separate problem

A separate problem is Trump’s attitude towards a full-scale war in Ukraine and his desire to leave our state without military support.

Until now Since then, the United States has been the main supplier of military aid to Ukraine. At a meeting of NATO defense ministers in Brussels, alliance members tentatively agreed on a plan to transfer control of support to Ukraine to a specially created headquarters within NATO itself. In theory, that would make the aid administration “Trump-proof,” as some diplomats say. A final decision is expected at the NATO summit in Washington July 9 – 11.

If implemented, the plan would gradually transfer control of aid to a group of 200 NATO soldiers in the Belgian city of Mons – a group which will continue to work with the United States, but under the NATO flag.

At the same time, it is unclear whether official agreements will limit Trump’s actions.