Portugal and other EU countries are now quietly but increasingly concerned about the prospect of Donald Trump returning as president of the United States, and “tearing Europe apart.”
Portugal has always fully endorsed the US and European countries, giving large quantities of weapons to Ukraine in its fight against Russia’s occupation.
Portugal has always fully supported the European Union, and also the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO), of which it was a founding member.
Donald Trump says he intends to immediately end the war in Ukraine and give Russia victory, by stopping support for Ukraine. He has shown little interest in continuing America’s close bonds with the European Union, or with continuing ties with NATO.
The other main worries for Portugal and the rest of Europe are that the US will side firmly with Israel, rather than a two-state solution with Palestine. Furthermore, there could be complications in the billions of dollars/euros cross-Atlantic trade relations, and efforts to counter the climate crisis.
The good news in recent days has been that representatives from Portugal and 50 other European countries attended a private summit in England, in which the newly elected British prime minister vowed to “reset” relations with the EU shattered by Brexit.
Also, the moderate Ursula Von der Leyen has been voted by a substantial majority to serve a second term as president of the EU Commission. The former Portuguese prime minister, Antonio Costa, is now well entrenched as president of the EU Council. And in Portugal, the main opposition centre-left Socialist Party has proposed having negotions with the new centre-right government “in good faith” about next year’s budget.
However, the Europe being “torn apart” prediction is likely to be of increasing worry for Portugal, and the rest of the continent. “This is the moment most of Europe’s leaders hoped they would never see,” reports the much respected American digital news company Politico. “The date is November 7, 2024.”
The Politico report continued: “The former reality TV star’s return to power would not only be the biggest test in transatlantic relations in post-war history, but it could also pose an existential risk to European unity, as the tensions over how to work with the world’s most powerful country pull the continent apart”.
Written by guest writer, Len Port
