Blinken heads to Europe amid growing doubts about US leadership

The visit comes as Ukraine begins to feel threatened by a shortage of new U.S. weapons and ammunition. Mr. Trump, Mr. Biden’s predecessor and likely to run against Mr. Biden as a Republican in November, has pressured his party not to approve in Congress a plan to resume military and economic aid to Kiev. ing.

The Senate on Tuesday approved a $95 billion package for Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan by a wide margin, but House Speaker Mike Johnson, an ally of President Trump, refused to allow it to be voted on in the House.

During his four years in office, President Trump expressed admiration for Russian President Vladimir Putin, said it was unfair for the United States to pay so much money, and questioned America’s treaty commitments to protect NATO allies. It showed.

At a campaign rally on Saturday, President Trump said he would even “encourage” the Russians to “do whatever they want” if NATO members “don’t pay their bills,” referring to defense spending.

Biden appeared on television from the White House on Tuesday to condemn Trump’s comments, calling them “stupid. Shameful. Dangerous. Un-American.”

President Trump has suggested Russia will win and is trying to link aid to Ukraine to pressuring Biden to crack down on migrants seeking to enter the United States, a key issue for Republican candidates.

Biden’s national security adviser, Jake Sullivan, said there were increasing reports in the United States that “Ukrainian forces on the front lines are rationing or depleting ammunition as Russian forces continue their offensive.” Stated.

“The stakes are getting higher and higher,” Sullivan told reporters Wednesday. “Our allies are watching this closely, and our enemies are watching this closely.

The Munich Security Conference brings together the world’s elite defense policymakers each year and is considered a barometer of transatlantic relations.

“Everywhere I go and every time I talk to people, it’s very clear that people looking at the United States look very nervous,” said Comfort Elo, head of the International Crisis Group. Ta.

“I think the United States is still seen as an influential player internationally, both positively and negatively. But there’s uncertainty, unpredictability, just polarization, division,” she said.

James O’Brien, the top U.S. diplomat in Europe, said that allies “understand that we have domestic politics just like they do,” and that support for Ukraine had “overwhelming support” among members of Congress. ”.

Sullivan expressed confidence that the aid would pass if it comes to a vote in the House.

British Foreign Secretary David Cameron, in an op-ed published Wednesday in The Hill featuring Parliament, pointed to the World War II alliance and urged approval of aid to Ukraine.

“I think our collective history shows the folly of bowing to European tyrants who believe in redrawing borders by force,” he wrote.

“We have the resources, the economic power, and the expertise,” he wrote. “All we have to do is play to our strengths. The question is whether we have the will.”

Before Munich, Blinken is scheduled to visit Tirana and meet with Prime Minister Edi Rama. After decades of isolation under communist strongman Enver Hoxha, Albania turned firmly to the West and joined NATO in 2009.

Rama received U.S. praise last year for chairing a controversial U.N. Security Council meeting on Ukraine attended by Blinken, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy.

Albania is also a major hub for accepting Afghans who fled the country after the Taliban seized power in 2021.

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