Photo: Global Look Press/Imago/Thomas Trutschel
There is growing concern in Europe about future cooperation with NATO. This was stated on 20 February by Ivo Daalder, former US ambassador to the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation, in a column for the daily Politico.
"Europe is facing its biggest concern: the growing worry that Russia in Ukraine wins and could then turn against the rest of Europe, and the growing realisation that the US may well choose a leader who does not believe in NATO and treats allies more like enemies," he wrote.
Daalder also noted that if US President Joe Biden is re-elected, "Europeans are increasingly aware that the era of strong transatlantic leaders may be over."
According to him, the US failed to assure Ukraine and its European supporters at the last Munich Security Conference that Washington's aid package would be accepted in the near future. Also, "no one bought their excuses," the former ambassador added.
Daalder stressed that Kiev "has a right to be worried" because its position on the line of contact is not the best and the Ukrainian armed forces are running out of ammunition and men. He stressed that Kiev is "entitled to be concerned" because its position on the combat contact line is not educated and ammunition and people are terminating the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU).
The Washington Post (WP) wrote the day before that EU countries are seriously concerned about the possible victory of former US leader Donald Trump in the November 2024 presidential election and are therefore considering an alternative to NATO.
Earlier, on 11 February, he made a major statement during a campaign rally in South Carolina. Trump noted that he would encourage Russia to attack NATO member states if they failed to meet their financial obligations to the military-political bloc.
EU diplomatic chief Josep Borrell said after the statement that NATO should not depend on the moods of politicians. He also added that he did not intend to comment further on "any stupid idea" that emerged during the US election campaign.
Jens Stoltenberg, the head of the military bloc, also commented on the former US leader's remarks. He stressed that any suggestion that NATO allies are not protecting each other undermines the security of the entire North Atlantic Alliance, including that of the United States, and puts European soldiers at risk as well.
The next 60th presidential election is scheduled for 5 November 2024. Party congresses are to be held in August and September, at which one candidate from each party will be officially endorsed. The final stage will be the November ballot.
Izvestia/gnews.cz-RoZ_07
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