Preparing for the international reality of Donald 2.0

A woman stands in a window of a hostel for displaced persons damaged by a Russian strike in Zaporizhzhia, Ukraine on Monday, November 11. (Picture: AP Photo/Kateryna Klochko)

I have been vocal in my opposition of Trump and my trip during parliamentary recess to campaign for Harris in Pennsylvania has been well-documented. My decision to go was driven by a sense of solidarity for campaigners toiling away in that vital swing state, but it was an act that ultimately proved ineffective.

As I have said previously, I think other political parties are wrong to completely abandon their public concerns about Trump on the alter of diplomatic protocol. Our special relationship with the United States is old enough and strong enough to withstand the measured criticism of political leaders on this side of the pond, but that isn’t what this column is about. What it is about is how we get ready for what’s coming.

We will have no say on the domestic reality of a Trump presidency – by which I mean the continuing assault on women’s reproductive rights, the potential for mass deportations or the revenge he might bring on anyone who criticises him. But we can prepare for the international reality of Donald 2.0.

That starts with the fighting men and women of the armed forces of Ukraine. Right now, they are the only firebreak between the expansionist tyranny of Vladimir Putin and the free democracies of the West. If Trump capitulates and seeks to appease the Kremlin by choking off military support for Ukraine, Putin won’t stop at Crimea or Donbas, nor will he stop at Ukraine.

In a short space of time, it would not be surprising if Russian ambition were to turn towards the Baltic states and ultimately countries that we are treaty-bound to defend. That is why the Liberal Democrats are calling for a “Ukrainian Victory” summit, to take place before Trump’s inauguration in January. With the United States set to embark on another dangerous period of isolationism, we must tie in all the closer with our European partners.

The expressed purpose of such a conference should map out how we Europeans fill the likely void in support for Ukraine left by America. That starts with channelling the £20 billion of Russian oligarch cash, currently frozen in Britain, to the Ukrainian war effort and encouraging European partners to do likewise.

We also need to take the long view on what American isolationism means in terms of the other global threats we face. First there is the climate emergency. Trump is an avowed climate change denier, international efforts to halt the warming of our planet will be all the harder without America.

Then there’s China. US capitulation with Russia over Ukraine, could well embolden Chinese ambitions in Taiwan. It will be much harder to meet an invasion by China of that sovereign island nation with the sort of sanctions we’ve levelled at Russia – particularly given the dependency of our academic institutions on Chinese cash.

Trump’s re-election takes our world on a darker, more frightening path but there are steps that together with our partners in Europe we can and should take now to mitigate what the next four years could mean.

Alex Cole-Hamilton is leader of the Scottish Liberal Democrats