Blinken heads to Europe as doubts grow over US leadership

WASHINGTON - US Secretary of State Antony Blinken heads to Europe on Feb 14 as he faces an uphill climb to quell doubts over United States leadership, with Congress deadlocked on providing new aid to Ukraine and presidential contender Donald Trump lashing out at Nato allies.

Months before President Joe Biden stands for re-election, Mr Blinken will take part in the Munich Security Conference alongside Vice-President Kamala Harris, after first stopping on Feb 15 in Albania, a close US ally that has strongly backed Ukraine in its defence against Russia’s invasion.

The trip comes as Ukraine is beginning to feel the pinch from a lack of new US weapons and ammunition.

Trump – Mr Biden’s predecessor and likely Republican challenger to him in November – is pressuring his party not to seal a package in Congress to resume military and economic assistance to Kyiv.

The Senate on Feb 13 approved a US$95 billion (S$128 billion) package for Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan by a comfortable margin, but House Speaker Mike Johnson, a Trump ally, has refused to put it to a vote in the Lower Chamber.

Trump, during his four-year tenure, voiced admiration for Russian President Vladimir Putin and questioned the US treaty commitment to defend Nato allies, saying it was unfair for the US to pay so much.

At a campaign rally on Feb 10, he said he would even “encourage” the Russians “to do whatever the hell they want” if a Nato member does not “pay your bills”, a reference to defence spending.

Mr Biden denounced Trump’s remarks in a televised appearance from the White House on Feb 13, saying: “It’s dumb. It’s shameful. It’s dangerous. It’s un-American.”

Trump has suggested that Russia will triumph and has sought to tie Ukraine aid to pressure on Mr Biden to crack down on migrants seeking to enter the US, a signature issue for the Republican candidate.

Mr Jake Sullivan, Mr Biden’s national security adviser, said the US was hearing of Ukrainian troops “rationing, or even running out, of ammunition”.

“I can’t put a timetable on it. All I can say is that, each passing day, each passing week, the cost of inaction from the United States that’s being borne on the front lines by brave Ukrainians is rising,” he said.

“Our allies are watching this closely. Our adversaries are watching this closely.”

Growing alarm among allies

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

“It’s very clear to me wherever I go and when I speak to people, that people watching the US appear very nervous,” said Dr Comfort Ero, head of the International Crisis Group.

“I think the US is still seen as an influential player, both positively and negatively, internationally. But I think increasingly there’s alarm, there’s concern, there is uneasiness, about the uncertainty, the unpredictability, just the polarisation, the division,” she said.

Mr James O’Brien, the top US diplomat for Europe, said allies “understand that we have domestic politics just as they do” and aid for Ukraine had “overwhelming support” among lawmakers.

Mr Sullivan voiced confidence the assistance would pass if it comes to a House vote.

In an opinion piece published on Feb 14 in The Hill, which covers Congress, British Foreign Secretary David Cameron pointed to the World War II alliance as he urged approval of aid to Ukraine.

“I believe our joint history shows the folly of giving in to tyrants in Europe who believe in redrawing boundaries by force,” he wrote.

“We have the resources, the economic might, the expertise. All we need to do is make our strength pay. The question is: Do we have the will?”

Before Munich, Mr Blinken will visit Tirana and meet Prime Minister Edi Rama. Albania turned firmly towards the West after decades of isolation under communist strongman Enver Hoxha, joining Nato in 2009.

Mr Rama won US praise for chairing a contentious United Nations Security Council session in 2023 on Ukraine attended by Mr Blinken, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.

Albania has also been a major hub to welcome Afghans who fled their country after the Taliban took back power in 2021. AFP