logo
episode-header-image
Jan 2025
33m 50s

Europe confronts Trump: the politics of ...

ECFR
About this episode

Less than two weeks into his second term and President Donald Trump is already dominating global headlines. From reigniting trade war threats and doubling down on his ambitions to acquire Greenland, to withdrawing from multilateral agreements and demanding that NATO allies allocate 5% of their GDP to defence—his administration is swiftly attempting to reshape global dynamics. Meanwhile, Trump’s ally Elon Musk is stirring political controversy and further unsettling European leaders. 


This week, Mark Leonard welcomes Camille Lons, deputy head of ECFR’s Paris office, Marta Prochwicz Jazowska, deputy head of ECFR’s Warsaw office, Jana Puglierin, head of ECFR’s Berlin office, José Ignacio Torreblanca, head of ECFR’s Madrid office and Arturo Varvelli, head of ECFR’s Rome office, to discuss how European capitals are responding to Trump’s dramatic return to the White House. Which major issues are they trying to deal with? And how are Europeans and the EU preparing for all the disruption to come? 



Bookshelf


Geopolitics and Democracy: The Western Liberal Order from Foundation to Fracture by Peter Trubowitz and Brian Burgoon 


Orbital by Samatha Harvey 

Realpolitik How to face the global disorder by Giampiero Massolo 


The Divider: Trump in the White House, 2017-2021 by Peter Baker and Susan Glasser 


Cocktail sugar : et autres nouvelles de Corée by Kim Ae-ran, Go Eun-ju, Jeon Gyeong-nin, Eun Hee-kyung, Oh Jung-hi, Han Kang, Park Chan-Soon, Pak Wan-So 


Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Up next
Nov 21
Trump's 28-point plan for Ukraine
<p>In this emergency podcast episode, <strong>Mark Leonard</strong> welcomes <strong>Jana Kobzova</strong>, co-director of ECFR’s European Security Programme, and <strong>Jim O’Brien</strong>, former US assistant secretary of state for Europe and ECFR distinguished policy fellow, ... Show More
30m 37s
Nov 21
The future of European air defence
<p>Europe’s most ambitious defence project is in deep trouble. Europe’s Future Combat Air System (FCAS), presented as the crown jewel of Franco-German cooperation, was meant to deliver a next-generation defence system ready to meet the demands of an increasingly dangerous world. ... Show More
26m 8s
Nov 14
The politics of migration and integration
<p>Across Europe, immigration and integration have become pressing political issues. The far right is surging in national polls, and debates over borders and national identity are reshaping party systems and public life.</p><br><p>This week, <strong>Mark Leonard </strong>is joine ... Show More
28m 32s
Recommended Episodes
Nov 2024
How Trump is already breaking Europe
After Donald Trump’s election victory, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán is breaking out the Champagne. Germany’s government, meanwhile, is breaking up. In this week’s episode of EU Confidential, we look at how Trump Round 2 is already reshaping European power dynamics. POLIT ... Show More
40m 48s
Jun 2025
Europe’s game plan for handling Trump at G7
The Pentagon has launched a review of the 2021 Aukus submarine deal with the UK and Australia, Donald Trump has said the US and China’s deal to restore their trade war truce is “done”, and US inflation rose less than expected to 2.4 per cent in May. Plus, European governments are ... Show More
10m 31s
Feb 2025
Germany votes, Trump attacks, Europe reacts
Europe suddenly has to do it all — all alone, all at once. Still in shock after U.S. President Donald Trump’s unequivocal pivot toward Moscow, European leaders are grappling with the real possibility that they won’t be able to count on NATO — and the reality that the EU might not ... Show More
37m 56s
Sep 26
Escalating trouble – Trump takes on the UN and Europe
Trump says Ukraine can win — but should Europe believe him? At a hectic U.N. General Assembly in New York, U.S. President Donald Trump stunned world leaders with a dramatic rhetorical reversal on the war in Ukraine, mocking Russia as a “paper tiger” and urging NATO allies to shoo ... Show More
33m 24s
Nov 2024
Scholz on the brink, Rubio in the wings: Europe faces the new Trump era
While Donald Trump is filling out his top team, the EU faces a leadership vacuum. Thank Germany, where Chancellor Olaf Scholz has been on the phone with Vladimir Putin and faces gloomy prospects in likely snap elections. EU Confidential host Sarah Wheaton is joined by Gordon Repi ... Show More
32m 24s
Dec 2024
Can Brussels’ new power trio take on Trump?
Finally. After months of paralysis, the new leadership team in Brussels is up and running. Then again, the power trio of European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, European Council President António Costa and foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas might already be out of date, ... Show More
34m 11s
Mar 2025
The Fallout From Zelensky and Trump’s Oval Office Meltdown
<p>On Friday, President Trump and Vice President JD Vance berated President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine in an explosive televised Oval Office meeting and abruptly cut short a visit that was meant to help coordinate a plan for peace.</p><p>Peter Baker, chief White House correspo ... Show More
34m 26s
Jun 2025
Of Daddies and Queens — from Trump to von der Leyen — and who’s really in charge in Europe
This week’s episode of EU Confidential comes to you from the Europa building in Brussels. We’ve been covering not one but two high-stakes gatherings, starting with NATO’s June 24-25 summit in The Hague, where Donald Trump got the royal treatment. June 26 brought the EUCO summit i ... Show More
35m 2s
Nov 2024
How will Donald Trump's re-election impact US - Europe relations?
European leaders meet, with the consequences of Donald Trump's election dominating talks. The war in Ukraine, relations with Russia, NATO, and trade and tariff fears are all under scrutiny. So what might be in store for Europe with Trump back in power?   In this episode: Philip S ... Show More
24m 34s
Feb 2025
Trump Shocks Europe
<p>A few days ago, the Trump administration began blowing up America’s existing approach to ending the war in Europe by embracing Russia and snubbing Ukraine.</p><p>The shift has quickly turned into a broader assault on America’s relationship with Europe.</p><p>Anton Troianovski, ... Show More
23m 11s