National security-minded Republican lawmakers are concerned about what they see as a growing rift between them and former President Donald Trump over key issues, including the war in Ukraine, preserving the NATO alliance, and protecting Taiwan from Chinese aggression, UNN reports citing The Hill.
Details
According to the newspaper, Trump's actions over the past three weeks have caused confusion and concern among Republican senators, who earlier this year voted to approve tens of billions of dollars to deter Russia's invasion of Ukraine and to restrain China from attacking Taiwan, an important US ally and trading partner.
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Defense-minded Republican senators viewed Trump's invitation to Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban to visit him at the Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida after the NATO summit in Washington as a troubling development, given Orban's close ties to Russian President Vladimir Putin and his efforts to undermine NATO's support for Ukraine's defense.
GOP senators who support U.S. involvement in the war in Ukraine were frightened when Trump picked Senator J.D. Vance (Ohio), who had led the opposition to the Ukraine aid package, as his running mate.
And Republicans in the Senate are uncomfortable with Trump's assertion that Taiwan should pay more for its defense and refusal to commit to defending the island.
One Republican senator, who wished to remain anonymous, said that "it's a big question" whether Trump would support a war in Ukraine or defend Taiwan in the event of a Chinese attack.
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"I don't think he wants to get into conflicts or pay for conflicts around the world," the senator said.
"There's no question where J.D. Vance is," the lawmaker said of Trump's selection of the Ohio senator as his running mate.
And the senator called Trump's meeting with Orban in Mar-a-Lago "disturbing.
"I can't tell you why he's doing this," the MP said.
Recall
The President of Ukraine called the upcoming US elections a challenge for Kyiv. Zelenskyy emphasized the importance of dialog with the candidates' teams and discussing possible future cooperation.