Europe responds to Donald Trump

Brussels Playbook Podcast

POLITICO

News, Politics, News Commentary

4.4 • 204 Ratings

🗓️ 16 February 2024

⏱️ 30 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

Donald Trump has again sent shockwaves across Europe with comments suggesting that he would encourage Russia to invade NATO countries that do not spend enough on defense. In this episode, we discuss reactions in European capitals. Host Sarah Wheaton and her colleagues — senior Paris correspondent Clea Caulcutt, chief Europe correspondent Matthew Karnitschnig and Stuart Lau who covers China and NATO — check whether Trump's criticism of NATO could effectively prompt EU leaders to enhance the bloc's defense capabilities. They also zoom into Budapest where an unexpected political scandal toppled two of Viktor Orbán's biggest loyalists. Later, to mark Valentine's Day, we also talk love. Our guest is Marjorie Libourel, a professional matchmaker based in Brussels. She discusses the challenges of dating and relationships in the Bubble, as well as making connections in an era of political polarization and changing gender roles. Further reading: "Brussels power couples 2024" by Sarah Wheaton and Eddy Wax "Donald Trump just did Europe a favor" by Matthew Karnitschnig "Hungary President Novak quits under pressure over sex-abuse pardon case" by Aitor Hernández-Morales and Stuart Lau Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcript

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0:00.0	Yep, he did it again.
0:05.0	One of the presidents of a big country stood up, said,
0:08.0	well, sir, if we don't pay and we're attacked by Russia, will you protect us?
0:14.0	I said, you didn't pay, you're delinquent?
0:17.0	No, I would not protect you.
0:19.0	In fact, I would encourage them to do whatever the hell they want.
0:22.0	You got to pay.
0:23.0	You got to pay your bills.
0:25.3	Donald Trump is doubling down.
0:28.2	If the last week's episode freaked you out,
0:30.5	when we talked about how Europe is pretty much unprepared
0:33.2	to defend itself without U.S. help,
0:35.4	well, that possibility is only looking more likely.
0:39.3	Trump's latest comments sent shockwaves through European capitals,
0:43.3	with EU leaders and NATO Secretary Yen Stoltenberg expressing shock, anger, and disbelief.
0:49.3	NATO cannot be a la carte military alliance.
0:53.3	Come on, let's be serious.
0:56.0	Any statement of that sort needs to be recognized with the danger that it brings.
1:02.0	Any suggestion that we are not standing up for each other, that does undermine the security of all of us.
1:08.0	As he prepares to face off against Trump one more time, the current president Joe Biden
1:13.0	also got pretty angry.
1:15.0	For God's sake, it's dumb, it's shameful, it's dangerous, it's un-American.
	...

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