µþ°ù³Ü²õ²õ±ð±ô²õÌýÌýAsÌýUSÌýPresident DonaldÌýTrump, knownÌýforÌýhis anti-EUÌýstance, takes office, experts believe that Brussels must push communication channels with Washington to maintainÌýtransatlanticÌýrelations based on mutualÌýinterests, particularlyÌýinÌýthe areasÌýof defense, trade, and supportÌýforÌýUkraine.
Trump, who caused tensionsÌýinÌýthe traditional Washington-Brussels partnership during his firstÌýtermÌýinÌý2017-2021,Ìýassumed office on MondayÌýasÌýthe 47th president of theÌýUS.
While preparingÌýforÌýpotential crises duringÌýTrump's secondÌýtermÌýdue to threats ranging from defense to trade, theÌýEUÌýleadership hasÌýalso expressed hopesÌýforÌýfostering positive relations, sending optimistic messages at every opportunity.
FollowingÌýTrump'sÌýinauguration, all topÌýEUÌýofficials shared congratulatory messages, expressing hopeÌýforÌýcontinued partnership.
-ÌýChallengesÌýforÌýEU
Giuseppe Spatafora, aÌýtransatlanticÌýrelations expert at theÌýEUÌýInstituteÌýforÌýSecurity Studies (EUISS), told Anadolu that defense and trade would be the key areasÌýwhere theÌýEU-USÌýrelations will be tested.
Describing the current security environmentÌýasÌý"the worst security situation that theÌýEUÌýhasÌýpotentially ever faced," Spatafora underscored the importance of alliances and maintaining friendly relations with theÌýUS.
"My perspective is that the relationship with the United States must continue, ... at least, given the security environment we're facing, it is important to continue it," he said.
However, he added: "TheÌýtransatlanticÌýrelationshipÌýasÌýwe know, it is probably going to be extremely challenging to not changeÌýforever from a position that tended to be one of like-mindedness and sharing similar values and being together."
However, he argued that these sharedÌýinterests, particularlyÌýinÌýdefense, are not entirely misaligned.
"Probably the United States is going to properly shift its focusÌýtowards its territorial defense and the defense and securityÌýinÌýtheÌýIndo-Pacific. But this doesn't necessarily mean the abandonment ofÌýEurope," he explained.
"It does mean an awareness thatÌýinÌýthe complex security environment, the United States will probably have to pick and choose their battles ... or the level of their goal, their focus, and at the same time, they'll have to think about their own reindustrialization," Spatafora added.
- TensionsÌýinÌýtrade
InÌýthe realm of trade, Spatafora noted that theÌýEUÌýis a stronger partner thanÌýinÌýdefense.
However, he warned of potential clashes with the new administration, which hasÌýthreatened to impose tariffs.
"InÌýthe trade dimension, obviously theÌýEUÌýis a stronger actor, but it's also one area ... of clashes with the new administration, which hasÌýthreatened to impose tariffs. It may start not withÌýEurope. It might start with China or with other countries," he noted.
On defense, he said: "Europeans have already begunÌýincreasing their defense spending, aligning with mutualÌýinterests. Continuing the relationship with theÌýUS, despite tensions, is essential."
- Ukraine and peace negotiations
Ondrej Ditrych, a senior analyst atÌýEUISS specializingÌýinÌýRussia and Eastern Neighborhood policies, highlighted theÌýEU's concerns aboutÌýTrump's stance on supporting Ukraine amid its war with Russia.
"My sense is that theÌýEU's support is likely to continue, it is importantÌýforÌýUkraine's defenses. ThisÌýincludes military material. It alsoÌýincludes training of Ukrainian units that participateÌýinÌýthe defense.
"But of course, there are certainÌýcritical capabilitiesÌýthat I mentioned, that are being provided by theÌýUS, andÌýinÌýthe very shortÌýterm, these would be very hard to substitute, but it is still kind of, I would say, an ongoing taskÌýforÌýtheÌýEUÌýto be aware of what these are and have a plan how to make upÌýforÌýtheÌýUSÌýsupport over time," Ditrych told Anadolu.
He also pointed to differencesÌýinÌýhow theÌýEUÌýandÌýTrumpÌýmight approach peaceÌýinÌýUkraine.
"If there is, let's say, some sort of a bad deal on Ukraine, then that will onlyÌýincrease the chance that Russia will break the deal. And this is not certainlyÌýinÌýtheÌýUSÌýinterest," he said, adding the newÌýUSÌýadministration appears keen on enforcing someÌýform of truce or peace agreement.
- Dealing withÌýTrumpÌýthrough NATO chief
Juraj Majcin, an analyst at theÌýEuropean Policy Centre, highlighted theÌýchallengesÌýtheÌýEUÌýfaces underÌýTrump.
It "will be very difficultÌýforÌýtheÌýEUÌýto act and it's because,ÌýforÌýone simple reason, thatÌýTrumpÌýdoesn't like theÌýEUÌýasÌýsuch," he told Anadolu.
MajcinÌýnoted thatÌýTrump, who previously pressuredÌýEurope toÌýincrease defense spending, now demands allies allocate 5% of GDP to defense.
WhileÌýEurope hasÌýmade significant progressÌýinÌýdefense spending compared to the firstÌýTrumpÌýadministration, MajcinÌýargued that conveying this progress to theÌýUSÌýremains a challenge.
MajcinÌýsuggested that theÌýEUÌýleverage NATO and figures like NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte, who he describedÌýasÌý"Trump's whisperer."
Rutte is "also very straightforward on theÌýEuropean level. He's not afraid of saying that alliance should spend more so," he said.
"I would recommendÌýEUÌýto workÌýinÌýcooperation with NATO ... and Mark Rutte," he added.
MajcinÌýalso warned of the "Elon Musk factor," stating that theÌýTrumpÌýadministration, with support fromÌýinfluential figures like Musk, may attempt to exploit divisions withinÌýEurope by backing far-right movements to extract concessions from theÌýEU.
* Writing by Necva Tastan Sevinc.
By Selen Valente
Anadolu Agency