1.News of Donald Trump’s return to power in the White House has made global headlines. His so-called America First foreign policy could see a withdrawal of US involvement in areas of conflict around the world. Five BBC correspondents assess the effect it could have where they are.
Trump seen as respite on Ukraine frontlines
2.”Do not try to predict Trump’s actions. No one knows how he is going to act.” The words of one Ukrainian MP reflect the political challenge facing Kyiv. A Trump victory was widely feared here, over what it could mean for future US support.
3.The Republican once vowed to end the war in a single day, and has repeatedly criticised US military aid for Ukraine. Now, it’s anyone’s guess what he could do. “He could ask Putin to freeze this war, and he says ‘OK’,” says a front-line soldier. “It’s the worst scenario because in a couple of years the Russians will advance again and might destroy us.”
4. “The second scenario is if Putin refuses,” he says. “There is a chance Trump will react radically. That is a more promising scenario.” Ukraine hopes that means the US further upping its military support in the face of a likely Ukrainian defeat. For those close to the front lines who have had enough of Russian aggression, Trump is seen as a route to respite.
No plans for Putin congratulations
5. You might expect the Kremlin to be cock-a-hoop at Trump winning back the White House. After all, out on the campaign trail, he had avoided criticising Vladimir Putin. Kamala Harris meanwhile called the Russian president “a murderous dictator“.
6.Trump had also questioned the scale of US military assistance to Kyiv. Publicly, though, the Kremlin is going out of its way to give the impression that it’s not excited by a Trump victory. “I’m not aware of any plans [for President Putin] to congratulate Trump,” said Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov. “Don’t forget that [America] is an ‘unfriendly country’ which is directly and indirectly involved in a war against our state.”
Europe’s leaders see security trouble ahead
7.When dozens of European leaders from the EU and beyond gather in Budapest on Thursday, those on the right will be celebrating Donald Trump’s election victory, but the rest will be asking themselves what happens next.
8. Hungarian host and Trump ally Viktor Orban was first on to Facebook with his delighted message: “It’s in the bag!” But for many other EU leaders Trump 2.0 could signal trouble ahead on security, trade and climate change. Within minutes of congratulating the Republican candidate, France’s Emmanuel Macron said he had agreed with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz to work towards a “more united, stronger, more sovereign Europe in this new context“.
9.German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock gave an idea of that context. Just back from Ukraine, she said Europeans now had to “think big and make investments in our European security big”, with the US as a partner. Her Polish and Nato counterpart Radoslaw Sikorski said he had been in touch with Trump’s top team and agreed “Europe must urgently take greater responsibility for its security”.
