Europe at sharp end of potential second Trump presidency

WITH the US presidential race in flux following incumbent Joe Biden’s withdrawal, there remains significant uncertainty over November’s outcome. However, much of the summer has seen robust polling for his predecessor, and the world is waking up to the significant possibility of a second Donald Trump presidency.

It is perhaps Europe, of any single region in the world, which would be at the sharp end of any second Trump term. The disagreements between the traditionally close transatlantic allies were legion from 2017 to 2021, and this could be worse from 2025 to 2029.

No surprise then that key teams have been formed across Europe to “scenario-plan” for this possibility. In Brussels, for instance, a group has been set up by the office of the Secretary-General of the European Commission, Ilze Juhansone, to look at issues from trade to defence, and climate to economic competitiveness.