US Harris and Blinken aim to reassure Europe despite Trump in Munich

Written by Trevor Hunnicutt and Humeira Pamuk

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris and Secretary of State Antony Blinken face a tough task at the annual Munich Security Conference, which opens on Friday, and reiterate the United States’ continued commitment to safeguarding its national security. reassured the allies.

Ms. Harris and Mr. Blinken spoke at the annual I plan to attend a security meeting.

Democratic U.S. President Joe Biden and President Donald Trump will face a close rematch in the November election, a Reuters/Ipsos poll showed this week.

Biden has declined to attend the annual conference in recent years, but Harris said on Friday that she would be “honoring America’s role in global leadership” ahead of talks with U.S. lawmakers and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy. He is scheduled to deliver what his aides are calling a major speech on the topic of “importance.” and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz.

Harris’ leadership will likely come into focus after a Justice Department special counsel report last week described Biden, 81, as an elderly man with “poor memory.” Mr. Trump is 77 years old.

The meeting, backed by U.S. security commitments to the NATO security alliance that President Trump has threatened to scrap, will see the conflict between Russia and the West threaten to threaten war on a continent that has spent decades trying to build peace. It will be held while bringing.

The Senate on Tuesday approved a $95.34 billion military aid package for Ukraine and other countries, but the money may not come up for a vote in the Republican-controlled House because of President Trump’s opposition.

At a political rally in South Carolina on Saturday, President Trump referred to what he called “delinquent” payments by NATO members and detailed past conversations with leaders of “great powers” about a possible attack by Russia. .

“No, I won’t protect you guys. In fact, I’ll encourage them (Russia) to do whatever they want. You guys have to pay,” Trump said anonymously. He said he informed his instructor.

The NATO treaty includes provisions guaranteeing mutual defense in the event of attack on member states.

Biden said Trump’s comments were an invitation to invade Putin’s allies and emphasized the urgent need for Ukraine funds.

Jeremy Shapiro, head of research at the European Council on Foreign Relations, said he did not expect Harris or Blinken to make any promises at the meeting about what a future Trump administration would do.

“They’re going to send a simple message: We’re going to win the election,” Shapiro said.

(Reporting by Trevor Hunnicutt and Humeira Pamuk; Editing by Heather Timmons, Noelene Walder and Lincoln Feast)

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