Trump’s win among major talking points as European leaders meet in Budapest

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 Tram passes by the Parliament building in downtown Budapest, Hungary, on September 11. — Reuters
Tram passes by the Parliament building in downtown Budapest, Hungary, on September 11. — Reuters

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 for the next two days to discuss support for Ukraine, migration, economic security and waning EU competitiveness.

According to Reuters, European leaders have broadly congratulated Trump but face uncertainty over US backing for Ukraine against Russia’s invasion, the US commitment to Nato and the prospect of tariffs on their exports to the US.

Adding to the uncertainty hanging over the Budapest gatherings, Germany’s three-party government broke apart yesterday 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.

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