Possible Trump return looms over NATO's Washington celebration
World
Possible Trump return looms over NATO's Washington celebration
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Leaders of NATO member states arrive in Washington this week intent on deepening support for Ukraine but will find themselves facing another kind of challenge: how to navigate the possible return of former U.S. President Donald Trump.
Host Joe Biden fumbled a June 27 debate, boosting Trump in the polls ahead of a Nov. 5 election that could upend Washington's foreign policy.
NATO leaders also confront political uncertainty in Europe, with paralysis looming in France after gains for left and far right parties, and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz's coalition weakened after a poor showing in European Parliament elections.
The NATO summit, which starts Tuesday, was meant to celebrate the 75th anniversary of a Cold War-era alliance that has found new purpose in opposing Russian President Vladimir Putin's invasion of Ukraine.
“The White House theory was that (the NATO summit) would show Biden's great strengths, which is that he does get this stuff," said Daniel Fried, formerly U.S. State Department's top diplomat for Europe.
