Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson warned Wednesday that a second Donald Trump presidency presents “risks” on a raft of issues, including United States aid to Ukraine and trade with Europe.
While congratulating Trump and praising “excellent US-Sweden relations” in a statement on social media, Kristersson sounded a cautious note about what Trump’s second term could mean for Europe in a press conference with Swedish journalists.
He stressed that a trade war between the U.S. and China would have dire consequences for European trade. “That risk means a lot for a country that is extremely dependent on exports and trade, like Sweden,” Kristersson said.
Trump has vowed to impose across-the-board tariffs of 10 to 20 percent and threatened to slap a 60 percent levy on all goods coming from archnemesis China.
But the biggest “risk” of a Trump presidency was “reduced commitment to Ukraine,” Kristersson added.
“We take note of the fact that the USA is so far the single largest military contributor to Ukraine. We appreciate it, we’re grateful for it, we don’t take it for granted,” he said.
“We will do what we can to underline our will to maintain the transatlantic commitment … There is no issue that has the same existential significance for countries in our part of the world as Ukraine.”
Trump has repeatedly threatened to cut off U.S. aid to Kyiv, promised to end the conflict in 24 hours in comments widely considered advocating for a negotiated settlement with the Kremlin, and said Ukraine should have “given up a little bit” to appease Moscow.
In a victory speech Wednesday morning, Trump vowed to “stop wars.”
Europe and Sweden needed to boost their own support for Ukraine in order to convince the U.S. to maintain its aid levels, Kristersson said.
“When we do that and are prepared to increase that support, it also benefits our relationship with the United States. The more we act ourselves, the stronger our position will be when we ask for, request, hope for continued strong transatlantic support for Ukraine,” he said.
Action on climate change is also likely be undercut by a Trump presidency, Kristersson pointed out. Trump previously pulled the U.S. out of the Paris Agreement, and has vowed to do so again.
In his victory speech, Trump referred to crude oil as “liquid gold.”
“We have more oil and gas, more liquid gold than any country in the world — more than Saudi Arabia, we have more than Russia,” Trump said Wednesday.
Kristersson said, “We see those risks, and we have planned for those risks.”
“We have for a long time planned for different scenarios, different social developments, and we are well prepared for this.”
The post Trump presidency risky for Europe, Swedish PM warns appeared first on Politico.
