World leaders prepare to deal with the possibility of Donald Trump’s return to the White House

The world is closely watching the political developments in the US. it has been reported by Politico that different world leaders are strategizing on the way forward after the US Presidential Election in November. Many of them are concerned about the return of Donald Trump who is presently leading in all surveys against his rival Joe Biden. The world and more specifically Europe was taken aback in 2016 when he won the election. Many of his policies were divisive and the European leaders are now preparing to mitigate the potential losses from his return to office. They are following a three-pronged plan.

Preparations:
Ahead of the NATO summit in Washington, many European countries are preparing well in advance to ensure that a possible victory of Trump does not disrupt their defense policies. In 2016 when Trump won, the world was relatively safe. However, now after the COVID-19 pandemic and the ongoing Ukraine war, Europe needs to be able to handle all possible policy disruptions.


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Trump’s policies:
Many diplomats and policy makers point out that Trump who had announced the US withdrawal from NATO had sought a commitment from Europe to increase its defense spending. Further, he may be obsessed with China and may in the process overlook the ongoing war in Ukraine. However, recently he did clarify that the US will continue to remain a member of NATO.

Three-pronged approach:
The members of the NATO including the European nations are following a three-pronged strategy to handle the possible disruptions due to Trump’s return to the White House. Firstly, many of the diplomats and political leaders are reaching out to Trump and his advisors. They hope that this will ensure in minimizing conflicts. In the past, Trump has focused on cultivating personal relationships with many world leaders including Kim Jong Un.

Secondly, at a rapid pace, policies are being amended in such a way that it pleases Trump and enables the countries to avoid disruptions. For example, many European countries are increasing their defense spending. They are aiming to spend at least three to four percent of their GDP on defense.

Lastly, there are creative diplomatic and military strategies that are being worked out to avoid possible disruptions by the Trump administration.

Challenges:
While reaching out to Trump and his close advisors, the diplomats are finding it tough to approach the right individual. Many of the individuals claim to be close to Trump and this can be challenging to ensure that their efforts are not wasted. Choosing the right advisors who are actually close to Trump is critical for those in Washington and beyond.

FAQs:

What is Donald Trump’s solution to the Ukraine problem?
There are two media reports in this regard. One report says that Trump and Putin are negotiating as to how much territory the Russians can be permitted to keep and the other report discussed how Trump intends to get both Russia and Ukraine to the negotiating table and stop the war.

What has been the US strategy in helping Ukraine?
The Biden administration has extended its full support to Ukraine. It has increased its aid, military and diplomatic support to Ukraine. Further, sanctions have been levied against Russia.