from Tamara Cohenpolitical correspondent, in Hungary
UK and European leaders will react collectively to Donald Trump's victory as they meet immediately to debate safety – and it casts a really lengthy shadow.
Because the gloom of the US consequence sinks in, Sir Keir Starmer will be part of a summit in Budapest hosted by the continent's largest cheerleader for the president-elect, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban.
Orban, considered with suspicion by the remainder of the EU due to his ties to Vladimir Putin, is delighted by Mr Trump's victory.
He informed reporters on the European Parliament final month, the place Hungary holds the rotating presidency, that he would open “just a few bottles of champagne if Mr Trump comes again”.
The European Political Neighborhood – which holds these summits each six months – was created within the wake of Russia's invasion of Ukraine as an opportunity for the EU27 to satisfy wider companions such because the UK, Turkey and the Caucasus nations to debate the challenges key safety points, together with battle and irregular migration.
However the US end result is prone to overshadow the discussions totally, as Mr Trump's method to Ukraine – and whether or not he’ll attempt to drive a peace plan wherein Ukrainians should quit territory – will dominate the agenda. President Zelenskyy is current.
Mr Orban can also be a supporter of a negotiated resolution to the Russia-Ukraine battle, whereas the remainder of the EU largely backs Ukraine's integrity – paving the best way for potential tensions.
Sir Keir will chair the migration listening to and announce three new intelligence-sharing offers with Balkan nations to crack down on individuals smuggling.
However protection issues are prone to be entrance and middle, with the prospect of US disengagement from Europe and stress on NATO members, who will not be but assembly the two% protection spending goal, to to develop up.
Sir Keir has already confronted questions at dwelling about when he’ll ship on his marketing campaign promise to spend 2.5%.
In an indication of the already modified environment, the German protection minister, who met his French counterpart yesterday, mentioned after Trump's victory: “They are going to be capable to do much less in Europe. We now have to fill this hole to be extra dependable when it comes to prevention”.
The aftershocks of occasions throughout the Atlantic will probably be very seen – we are able to get the primary alerts of how Europe will reply.