Europe is worried as Trump chooses new 'deputy'

At the annual Munich Security Conference in February, Europe's political and foreign policy elite heard firsthand from Senator JD Vance opposing military aid to Ukraine and warning that Europe would have to rely less on the United States to defend Ukraine.

Now, after Mr. Vance was selected as the Republican vice presidential candidate, concerns about the US stopping or limiting aid to Ukraine have spread across Europe.

Mr. JD Vance speaks at a rally held by former US President Donald Trump in Youngstown, Ohio on September 17, 2022. Photo: Reuters

"His selection as vice-presidential candidate is worrying for Europe," said Ricarda Lang, co-leader of Germany's Green Party.

The choice has raised concerns in Europe that if Mr Trump returns to the White House, he will abandon or limit US support for Kiev, while pushing Ukraine to enter peace talks to end its current conflict with Russia.

At the Munich conference, Mr. Vance said President Putin did not pose an existential threat to Europe, adding that the United States and Europe could not provide Ukraine with enough ammunition to win against Russia. Instead, he expressed more strategic concerns in Asia and the Middle East.

Speaking on a podcast in 2022, Mr Vance said: “I don’t really care one way or the other what happens in Ukraine.” In Munich, he advocated a “negotiated peace” and said he thought Russia had the motivation to come to the negotiating table.

This view is in stark contrast to that of most European leaders, who believe the West should continue to step up support for Ukraine with military aid.

Mr Vance also voted against a US funding bill for Ukraine in April. He argued that Kiev and Washington must abandon their goal of returning the border to its 1991 status.

Ngoc Anh (according to Reuters)

Source: https://www.congluan.vn/chau-au-lo-so-khi-ong-donald-trump-chon-pho-tuong-moi-post303780.html