July 12, 2024

World leaders are working on ‘Trump-proofing’ NATO

by Jefferson He

in Washington D.C, United States

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July 11, 2024. Washington DC, United States. Prime Minister of the United Kingdom Keir Starmer and Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

Picture by: Simon Dawson / No 10 Downing Street | Flickr

On Day two of the Northern Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) Summit, happening in Washington DC, the world leaders have mainly focused on aiding Ukraine and continuously providing help to Ukraine even after the election.

One of the key issues that had to be discussed is ‘Trump-proofing’. This is because former President Donald J. Trump has a chance of becoming the president again, and could stop providing aid to Ukraine.

In February this year, Trump announced to the NATO members that when he enters the office again, he will not provide any military aid to any member of state that ‘had not met its financial obligations to the bloc’.

Trump’s decision surely contradicts the meaning of the NATO Summit, ‘to safeguard the freedom and security of all its members’.

During a rally in South Carolina on February 10, 2024, Trump warned NATO allies that he “would encourage” Russia “to do whatever the hell they want” to the countries not meeting defence spending guidelines. However, Trump stated the U.S. will 100% remain in NATO as long as European countries “play fair”.

This has made many European countries worried about relying on America’s commitment for Europe’s security.

In an interview with Nigel Farage for the British TV channel GB News, Trump warned European nations not to “take advantage” of American support. And if they do, Trump will not provide any military support to any state members.

Therefore, in the NATO Summit the leaders came up with the plan, referred to as ‘Trump-Proofing’, for a future where Trump could win the November elections. With this motion, they decided that “NATO will take over substantial parts of the various coordinating efforts for Ukraine aid from the U.S”.

In this case, the US will be able to continue to support Ukraine and other countries that are at war, under Trump’s Presidency, if he gets elected.

Ukraine’s aid is still going to be the main focus throughout the whole of NATO.

Written by:

Jefferson He

Editor-in-Chief 2024

London, United Kingdom

Born in 2007 in Hong Kong, Jefferson studies in Reading, England and plans to attend a university in the United Kingdom.

Jefferson joined Harbingers’ Magazine in 2023 — first as a contributor, but quickly became the UK Correspondent. In 2024, he took over as the editor-in-chief and acting editor of the Politics section.

Additionally, Jefferson coordinates the Harbingerettes project in Nepal, where a group of 10 students has journalism-themed lessons in English. He spends some of his holiday reporting on the development of LGBT+ rights in Asia (one of his articles was published by The Diplomat).

He is interested in philosophy, journalism, sports, religious studies, and ethics. In his free time, Jefferson – who describes himself as “young, small and smart” – watches movies, enjoys gardening and plays sports. He speaks English, Mandarin and Cantonese.

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