World wakes up to prospect of Trump 2.0
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Then-President Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky meet in 2019. Photo: Saul Loeb/AFP via Getty Images
U.S. allies and adversaries around the world woke up on Wednesday to the likelihood of a second Trump presidency.
Why it matters: Many of America's Western allies have worried about the return of a Trump administration, which could significantly change U.S. foreign policy and its engagement with the world.
- Trump has claimed he'll be able to bring peace to Ukraine, end the war in Gaza, restrict China's trade practices, and force allies to pay their "fair share" into NATO.
Flashback: Trump's first term in office was a shock for the transatlantic alliance.
- Trump had contentious relations with many European leaders and expressed disregard for the EU, United Nations, NATO and other institutions.
- At the same time, he tried to build good relationships with the leaders of U.S. adversaries, including Russian President Vladimir Putin, Chinese President Xi Jinping and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un.
- When President Biden assumed office, he immediately distanced himself from foreign autocrats and rekindled relations with democratic allies.
State of play: One day before the U.S. presidential election, a European NGO published a report that found public opinion in most European countries strongly favored a Harris victory.
- The report likely also reflects the views of European leaders, for whom the primary concern about Trump is his opposition to U.S. military aid to Ukraine.
- Russians favored Trump's return, along with respondents from a few eastern European states like Hungary.
- Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, a key Trump ally but a thorn in the side of the EU, was the first foreign leader to congratulate Trump.
Shortly after Orbán came another key Trump ally: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who treated Vice President Harris with deep suspicion.
- The latest polls showed Israelis overwhelmingly preferred Trump over Harris.
- Trump's first term in office ended with a falling out between him and Bibi. But in recent months the two buried the hatchet and spoke frequently on the phone.
Between the lines: Arab leaders, especially in the Gulf, had a very close relationship with Trump during his first term and were also hoping for a comeback.
- Iranian leaders don't share that sentiment. U.S. intelligence services say the Iranians plotted to assassinate Trump.
- The new Iranian president Masoud Pezeshkian hoped a Harris victory would reopen a path for a deal with the U.S. that would lift some of the sanctions crippling Iran's economy.
What to watch: Even leaders who don't like Trump will try to establish strong working relationships.
- Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has already begun that work by swiftly congratulating Trump early Wednesday morning and praising his "decisive leadership."
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