JD Vance: The implications of Trump’s running mate choice on the future of Ukraine and NATO in the US News
The selection of JD Vance – a vocal critic of US aid to Ukraine and American support for European security – as Donald Trump’s running mate indicates a potentially significant shift in US foreign policy if they were to win the election, according to defense experts.
The 39-year-old Republican senator, a former Marine and political newcomer, is poised to become the next vice president of the US in January.
His stance on foreign affairs, expressed in various interviews, articles, and speeches, is now under increased scrutiny.
His views, aligned with those of his running mate, prioritize putting America’s interests first even if it means straining old alliances like NATO and the Western response to Russia’s aggressive actions in Ukraine.
Instead, the focus is on addressing the threats posed by China and countering Iran.
A former high-ranking British defense official warned that a Trump-Vance administration would likely halt all financial and military aid to Ukraine immediately.
Another defense source questioned whether they would truly cut off support to Ukraine during their tenure.
The Republican nominees for president and vice-president. Pic: Reuters
However, Mr. Vance, who has voiced opposition to large aid packages for Ukraine, stated in a podcast interview with Trump adviser Steve Bannon in 2022, “I don’t really care what happens in Ukraine one way or the other,” as reported by the New York Times.
He has also argued that the US and Europe lack the manufacturing capacity to produce the necessary weapons for Ukraine to succeed in the conflict.
Instead, Trump’s running mate advocates for a peace agreement between Russia and Ukraine.
His comments, dismissing Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s goal of regaining all territories seized by Russia, could unsettle Kyiv and its allies, including London.
“By adopting a defensive strategy, Ukraine can preserve its military strength, halt further losses, and create space for negotiations to begin,” Mr. Vance wrote in an article for the New York Times in April.
This underscores why the possibility of a second Trump presidency, with Mr. Vance as vice president, raises significant concerns for Ukraine after years of conflict.
What does the pick mean for NATO? Pic: Reuters
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“I do hope that there will be other people in Trump’s team – like [former secretary of state Mike] Pompeo – who will balance Vance’s approach,” said Liudmyla Dolhonovska, an expert in Strategic Communications, based in Kyiv.
“If I were an MP or a government official, I would immediately request a meeting with Vance to try to convince him to support Ukraine.”
It is not just Ukraine that should be concerned about Mr. Vance’s impact on US foreign policy.
The UK and European NATO allies should be preparing for a rapid increase in their defense capabilities if a second Trump administration indeed becomes more isolationist and shifts its focus to threats from China rather than Russia’s threat to Europe.
The former senior UK defense official, speaking anonymously, predicted that a second Trump administration would “begin the process of dismantling NATO – I’m not exaggerating.”
In an article for the Financial Times in February, Mr. Vance criticized the UK and other European countries for reducing defense spending and military strength after the end of the Cold War, relying heavily on the US military for protection.
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The UK and other European nations should reassess their defense capabilities and readiness to combat threats if a second Trump administration turns more isolationist and shifts focus to challenges from China over Russia’s threat to Europe.
The former UK defense official warned that a second Trump term could lead to the disbandment of NATO.
Mr. Vance’s criticism of European countries for relying on the US for security after reducing their defense budgets underscores the need for European nations to prioritize their own defense.
“Europe needs to ask itself if it is prepared to defend itself, and the US needs to question whether European allies are truly allies or merely dependents on American military protection,” Mr. Vance highlighted.
