Commentary

EU leaders would be wise to work with Trump 2.0 on reindustrialisation, whatever differences they may have on Ukraine and bilateral trade. The concentration of fighting capability and industrial capacity in the anti-Western axis is the major threat to Europe’s security.

Under Trump, the US commitment to European defence and NATO is under question. The EU should work to ensure the American presence endures while also taking up a greater burden of the continent's defence in cooperation with the alliance. We suggest where to start.

The EU has a chance to exert influence over the incoming Trump 2 administration if it moves swiftly to make a ‘China pitch’ focused on ‘three Ts’: trade, tech and Taiwan.

With the new US administration focused on the mounting competition with China, the Western Balkans risks being sidelined in the broader geopolitical landscape. The EU needs to anticipate the potential challenges posed by upcoming policy shifts for the region.

Given Trump’s unpredictable foreign policy, in the Indo-Pacific the EU may find itself compelled to act with greater independence in an economically and geopolitically critical region.