Republican
presidential
candidate
former
President
Donald
Trump
walks
with
Poland's
President
Andrzej
Duda at
Trump
Tower in
midtown
Manhattan
in New
York on
Wednesday,
April
17,
2024.
Stefan
Jeremiah/AP |
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Hungarian
Prime
Minister
Viktor
Orbán
made
complimentary
statements
about
former
US
President
Donald
Trump,
emphasising
his
"peacemaking"
qualities.
Photo:
Getty
Images |
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Global
leaders,
former
leaders and diplomats
meet
with
Trump
ahead of
possible second
term
By Li
Huang
Political
Reporter
tellususa.com
WASHINGTON
- Global
allies
of the
United
States
are
taking
preemptive
measures
to
protect
their
interests
in the
event of
a second
term for
former
President
Donald
Trump.
Recent
opinion
polls in
swing
states
suggest
an even
chance
of his
return
to power
in
November's
elections.
Diplomats
and
government
officials
from
five
continents
are
concerned
about
the
impact
of
Trump's
"America
First"
policies,
which
previously
included
trade
wars,
security
alliance
shakeups,
immigration
crackdowns,
and the
withdrawal
from a
global
climate
accord.
International
media
have
interviewed
them
about
their
preparations
for
Trump's
potential
re-election.
In
anticipation
of a
possible
Trump
2.0,
Germany
is
proactively
engaging
with the
Republican
Party.
They are
building
bridges
with
Trump's
base at
the
state
level
and
reminding
party
officials
of
Germany's
substantial
investments
in U.S.
industry.
Michael
Link, a
transatlantic
coordinator,
is
leading
this
'bypass
diplomacy'
by
targeting
swing
states
where
Germany
is a
significant
investor.
He has
met with
Republican
governors
in
Oklahoma,
Arkansas,
Alabama,
and
Indiana
to
discuss
the
importance
of
maintaining
good
trade
ties.
Mexico,
Japan,
and
Australia
are also
taking
specific
actions
to
safeguard
their
interests
in the
event of
Trump's
re-election.
Mexican
government
officials
have
been
engaging
with
individuals
close to
Trump on
key
issues
such as
migration
and
fentanyl
trafficking.
Japan is
reportedly
seeking
a Trump
whisperer,
while
Australia
is
drafting
legislation
to
protect
its U.S.
defense
ties
from
potential
disruptions,
according
to two
Mexico-based
sources.
Some
foreign
leaders
have
contacted
Trump
directly,
despite
the risk
of
upsetting
his
election
rival,
Democratic
President
Joe
Biden.
Hungary's
prime
minister
and
Poland's
president
recently
met with
Trump in
person,
and
Saudi
Arabia's
crown
prince
called
him,
according
to a
source
who was
knowledgeable
about
the
conversation.
British
Foreign
Minister
David
Cameron
also
held
talks
with
Trump
this
month,
where
they
discussed
Ukraine,
the
Israel-Gaza
war, and
the
future
of NATO.
While
meetings
between
candidates
and
diplomats
are
normal,
some
experts
have
noted
that
Trump's
meeting
with
Hungary's
prime
minister
and the
call
with
Saudi
Arabia's
Mohammed
Bin
Salman
were
unusual.
Regardless,
Trump's
advisers
have
said
that
meetings
and
calls
from
world
leaders
reflect
the
recognition
that
Biden is
weak and
that the
world
will be
more
secure
and
America
will be
more
prosperous
when
Trump is
re-elected.
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