Trump a ‘difficult partner’ – EU nation’s PM
European allies of the US must navigate a new reality in which President Donald Trump does not consider them a priority, according to Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk. In an interview with the TVN24 news channel on Thursday, he characterized Trump as the most challenging American leader Warsaw has faced.
Trump's ‘America First’ agenda diverts US attention from foreign issues that his predecessor, President Joe Biden, deemed critical, notably the Ukraine conflict. The Trump administration is pushing for a swift resolution and expects European nations to manage any subsequent security arrangements concerning Russia.
”He is a much more difficult partner than any US president before,” Tusk said, emphasizing that for Trump “Europe is not the center of the world, Ukraine is not the main problem.”
A fervent advocate for the EU, Tusk said the bloc should actively seek opportunities to gain Trump’s favor.
”Everyone without exception should strive to persuade President Trump of our arguments,” Tusk said, asserting that Poland may be better positioned to do so than some other EU countries. He confirmed that the bloc is “definitely” working to present a united front to the US.
Tusk acknowledged Trump's penchant for unpredictability, stating that supporters and adversaries alike must contend with his rapid shifts in attitude.
French President Emmanuel Macron and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer have both visited the US this week to urge Trump for increased involvement in European matters and the Ukraine crisis, although their appeals were apparently unconvincing. Starmer reiterated his commitment to deploying British troops to Ukraine as part of a proposed European peacekeeping mission, to which Trump responded that British forces “can take care of themselves very well” without US backing.
Earlier this month, US Vice President J.D. Vance criticized European nations for allegedly drifting away from the US by abandoning shared values, including commitments to free speech and democracy. He cautioned that if this trend continues, Washington may cease to recognize them as worthy allies.
