President Trump appears willing to shake up almost every policy area, and a behind-the-scenes E.U. task force has been trying to prepare. But is Europe ready?According to The New York Times, as Donald J. Trump was sworn in as President in Washington on Monday, a crowd at a packed party hosted by Ukrainian business groups in Davos, Switzerland watched the ceremony intently on large screens. The event, held on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum’s annual conference, appeared to be a show of support for the returning American president. Speakers praised Trump and predicted that he would be a valuable ally for Ukraine in its conflict with Russia, despite his previous criticism of US military spending in the region. Waiters served mini cheeseburgers on red and blue buns, which attendees whispered were “American food.” A few people even applauded at the end.
However, this apparent optimism was a thin cover for deep uncertainty. “We expect President Trump to surprise us, but we do not know what the surprise will be,” said Andy Hunder, president of the American Chamber of Commerce in Ukraine, at the party. Trump’s return to the White House has left Europe’s business leaders and policymakers in a precarious position, and officials have been preparing for it behind the scenes. The European Commission, the executive arm of the European Union, formed a group, informally known as the “Trump task force,” to work on potential responses to changes in American trade and foreign policy.
Almost every aspect of European policy is at risk of being upended by Trump. He has threatened to impose significant tariffs and is pushing for increased European spending on defense. Two of his first actions as president were to withdraw from the Paris climate agreement and the World Health Organization. One of the biggest questions is how he will approach the situation in Ukraine. During his campaign, he promised to end the conflict on his first day in office, but that timeline has since been pushed back and he has not specified how he plans to do so.
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