Zelensky Saddest Man on Earth After Trump's Victory
20:40 06.11.2024 (Updated: 20:42 06.11.2024)
© AP Photo / Evan Vucci
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Donald Trump made history on Wednesday as the first American in 132 years to secure two non-consecutive terms as President. Sputnik India examines what Trump’s return means globally and for India.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is likely to become the saddest man on Earth following Republican candidate Donald Trump's return to the Oval Office, as Trump would almost certainly halt the hundreds of millions of dollars in financial aid, crucial for the Ukraine's war effort against Russia, experts have said.
Trump has repeatedly spoken about his "America First" vision, which champions withdrawing US support, particularly financial assistance, to military campaigns in far-off lands like Ukraine, Commodore (Retd) Seshadri Vasan underlined.
As the 78-year-old billionaire businessman returns to the saddle, there is near surety about reverses in America's policy towards the Ukraine conflict, the Indian Navy veteran added.
Trump has repeatedly spoken about his "America First" vision, which champions withdrawing US support, particularly financial assistance, to military campaigns in far-off lands like Ukraine, Commodore (Retd) Seshadri Vasan underlined.
As the 78-year-old billionaire businessman returns to the saddle, there is near surety about reverses in America's policy towards the Ukraine conflict, the Indian Navy veteran added.
"Perhaps the saddest man after Trump's victory would be Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky as he would see the billions of dollars he receives in military aid being stopped soon. The only way Trump would be interested in investing loads of money outside American territory is if someone convinces him to share the burden of NATO's expeditionary engagements around the world," Vasan told Sputnik India on Wednesday.
America is becoming a lot more interventionist, poking its nose into places where it doesn't belong, Abhijit Iyer-Mitra, a senior fellow at the New Delhi-based Institute of Peace and Conflict Studies, stated.
However, this approach is likely to decrease under Trump, the expert believes. He pointed out that Trump never started a war and that Russia did not initiate its Special Military Operation (SMO) in Ukraine.
"Trump is almost certain to secure a deal to end the hostilities in Ukraine. Under his leadership, America would focus more on Asia, specifically on China than on Europe. After all, it is high time Euro-centrism ends because Europe is no longer the centre of gravity while Asia is," the geopolitical pundit stressed.
America's grip on the global power structure will continue to diminish even under Trump's presidency because the world's power structures are a function of the economy and so much of the economy is shifting away from the US, Europe, and other power centres like Japan. While Europe is becoming poorer and poorer, Japan is facing a recession.
Europe is effective only when aligned with America; if a major part breaks away, Europe loses its former influence, he explained. Consequently, there is little doubt that Asia is gaining prominence at Europe’s expense. That is why the Bretton Woods institutes like the World Bank and International Monetary Fund (IMF) are losing their relevance.
Europe is effective only when aligned with America; if a major part breaks away, Europe loses its former influence, he explained. Consequently, there is little doubt that Asia is gaining prominence at Europe’s expense. That is why the Bretton Woods institutes like the World Bank and International Monetary Fund (IMF) are losing their relevance.
"However, a crackdown on Khalistani extremists under Trump is not going to happen because he has bigger fish to fry. In the American scheme of things, the Khalistani issue is not important at all," the international relations commentator opined.
Trump seeks a quick end to the Russia-Ukraine war and does not oppose India's friendship with Russia, Sidhant Hira, a Non-Resident Fellow at Irregular Warfare Initiative, highlighted.
He suggested that the war could end within six months, by the summer of 2025, possibly with an arrangement regarding the Donetsk and Donbas regions.
Trump's comeback as America's leader would serve India well and New Delhi should expect some tough measures on the issue of Khalistani extremism, Hira, unlike Iyer-Mitra, believes.
He suggested that the war could end within six months, by the summer of 2025, possibly with an arrangement regarding the Donetsk and Donbas regions.
Trump's comeback as America's leader would serve India well and New Delhi should expect some tough measures on the issue of Khalistani extremism, Hira, unlike Iyer-Mitra, believes.
"Deep State and Trump disagree on a lot of things but are in agreement about a lot of the larger-level stuff. Trump is more pragmatic so we can look forward to a stronger action against Khalistan supporters in the US," he concluded.
