Trump, German coalition collapse to loom large as European leaders meet

7/11/2024 13:05

        Donald Trump's return to power and the collapse of Germany's ruling coalition will be major talking points at a meeting of nearly 50 European leaders and an EU summit in Budapest on Thursday and Friday to discuss support for Ukraine, migration, economic security and waning EU competitiveness.
        
        European leaders have broadly congratulated Trump but face uncertainty over U.S. backing for Ukraine against Russia's invasion, the U.S. commitment to the NATO military alliance and the prospect of tariffs on their exports to the United States.
        
        Adding to the uncertainty hanging over the Budapest gatherings, Germany's three-party government broke apart on Wednesday evening as Chancellor Olaf Scholz sacked his finance minister and paved the way for a general election.
        
        Some are officials also nervous about the summit plans of Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, who has been criticised by European Union peers over his trips to Moscow and Georgia during his country's EU presidency, and said that he would pop champagne corks if Trump won.
        
        Speculation about surprises that host Orban might spring has included hooking up leaders by video link with Trump, whose defeat of Democratic Vice President Kamala Harris in Tuesday's election was celebrated by the right-wing nationalist Hungarian leader.