Mark Leonard's World in 30 Minutes Live from Warsaw: Polling European politics under Trump’s shadow
Jun 28, 2025
Ivan Krastev, a prominent political scientist and expert on European strategy, joins Carl Bildt, former Swedish Prime Minister and a seasoned commentator on geopolitics, to discuss how Trump is reshaping European politics. They delve into the fears surrounding security and the rise of Euroscepticism influenced by American politics. The conversation touches on the need for reform in European defense strategies amid global uncertainties, alongside the challenges posed by demographic changes and immigration, highlighting their effects on societal attitudes across Europe.
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Trump Alters US Geopolitical Identity
- Trump's second term radically alters the US geopolitical identity and undermines its leadership in the liberal order.
- Europeans are increasingly anxious about security threats, especially nuclear war, and desire greater national defense capabilities.
Europe's New Age of Disorder
- Europe faces a new age of disorder requiring renewed defense efforts and crisis management.
- The NATO summit showed mixed commitments with Northern Europe more likely to meet defense spending goals than Southern Europe.
Shifting Divides Shaped by Far-Right
- The East-West divide in Europe reflects the varying strength of far-right parties rather than national consensus.
- Far-right parties may try to benefit from Trump’s presence but mainstream parties can mobilize opposition against him.