U.S. President Joe Biden’s announcement that he was withdrawing from the presidential race was expected to dominate a meeting on Monday of the EU foreign ministers.
The meeting is coming amid concern across much of Europe at the prospect of a second Donald Trump presidency.
The main topics scheduled for Monday’s regular meeting are the ongoing conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East, however Biden’s historic decision is likely to overshadow the Brussels talks.
Biden’s announcement on Sunday that he would not run for a second term came on throwing his Democratic Party into upheaval.
This is so as they scramble to nominate a candidate who can take on Republican rival Donald Trump on Nov. 5.
Relations between the EU and the U.S. soured under Trump’s first presidency, and fears are rife across much of the bloc that a second Trump term could have far-reaching consequences.
The rife is that, Trump term could have far-reaching consequences for the war in Ukraine, global trade and European security in general.
Not all EU capitals share these concerns; however, with the bloc undergoing a political shift to the right exemplified in last month’s European Parliament elections.
Initial reactions on Sunday evening included Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk on the one hand, who praised Biden on X for his “many difficult decisions thanks to which Poland.
“Also America and the world are safer, and democracy stronger.’’
At the other end of the spectrum, Geert Wilders, the leader of the Dutch far-right Party for Freedom, reposted a tweet showing Trump with his fist raised following last week’s assassination attempt.
This is alongside the words “President Trump’’ and a flexed biceps emoji.
Attention will likely focus on Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, who met Trump earlier this month in a flurry of diplomacy that also included visits to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.
Also the Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping has the attention.
Hungary took over the EU’s rotating presidency in July, but top EU officials and fellow leaders have distanced themselves from Orbán’s self-proclaimed “peace mission.’’
Separately, Hungary is under pressure to lift its veto on the release of funds to support Ukraine’s war effort.
The foreign ministers are due to discuss the EU’s support to Ukraine, as well as the damage done to the country’s energy infrastructure, which has come under attack from Russia.
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba planned to participate in the meeting by video link.
The talks are also expected to turn to the humanitarian situation in Gaza amidst the Israel-Hamas war, as well as rising tensions on the border between Israel and Lebanon. (dpa/NAN)
