Borrell says US midterm wins do not tame Trump's foreign policy

Josep Borrell argues that the recent Democratic victory in the United States midterms does not neutralize the threat posed by President Donald Trump. Speaking in an interview with the program Talking Europe, Borrell, who served as the EU's High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy for five years, described Trump as a very dangerous person for the world. He maintained this assessment despite the political shifts in Washington that resulted in a decisive win for the Democrats in Congress.

Borrell, a former Spanish foreign minister now leading the Barcelona Centre for International Affairs, contends that domestic checks on executive power do not guarantee a constructive transatlantic relationship. He noted that Trump retains strong veto powers that allow him to shape foreign policy according to his own preferences. Borrell suggested that a president who feels constrained at home might behave in a more erratic manner internationally. This view challenges the optimistic notion that a stronger congressional opposition would automatically stabilize US foreign policy.

The former diplomat criticized the current dynamic between Europe and the United States. He stated that Europeans have effectively been playing a game of submission with their American counterpart. Borrell viewed the transatlantic relationship as fractured, requiring a fundamental shift in how European nations engage with the US. He expressed a lack of optimism regarding future US funding for the war in Ukraine. He argued that European nations have been paying the bill for the conflict, a financial burden that has grown heavier as American support appears uncertain or conditional. He did not foresee a rapid improvement in this financial dynamic following the midterm results.

The interview also addressed the political ripple effects of the US elections across the Atlantic. Borrell discussed how the heavy defeat of the Republican Party might influence right-wing and far-right parties in Europe. With elections approaching in countries such as France and Spain, he described the US results as encouraging for left-leaning political movements. Particular attention was given to the political situation in Spain, where Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez has called a snap election for November 29. Borrell noted that it remains to be seen whether this strategic move will prove to be a successful gamble or if it could lead to a historic shift where a far-right party enters the government for the first time since the death of Francisco Franco in 1975.

Borrell’s comments offer a perspective that bridges his extensive diplomatic experience with current academic analysis. His role at a leading European think tank positions him to observe these shifts closely. The program featuring the interview was prepared by a team including Oihana Almandoz, Isabelle Romero, Florine Hausfater, Perrine Desplats, and Charlotte Prudhomme.