VP Harris to Inform Munich That Trump’s Ideas Won’t Resonate with Americans, According to Reuters

By Trevor Hunnicutt and Humeyra Pamuk

WASHINGTON/MUNICH – U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris and Secretary of State Antony Blinken have a challenging task ahead of them at the annual Munich Security Conference, which begins on Friday. Their objective is to reassure allies that the United States remains dedicated to their security.

Harris and Blinken’s attendance comes just days after Donald Trump, the leading candidate for the Republican presidential nomination, stated he would not defend NATO allies that do not meet their defense spending commitments against potential Russian aggression.

In her address at the conference, Harris is expected to reaffirm that the U.S. will uphold its NATO obligations established post-World War II, emphasizing a stark contrast between President Biden’s global engagement strategy and Trump’s isolationist views. According to a White House official, she will "recommit to defeating the failed ideologies of isolationism, authoritarianism, and unilateralism" while condemning these foreign policy approaches as misguided and perilous.

Harris will also express confidence that the American public will continue to support the Biden-Harris administration’s principles, especially in light of a challenging political landscape. Democratic President Joe Biden is likely to face Trump in November in what promises to be a closely contested rematch of the 2020 election, a situation made more complex by Trump’s recent comments about NATO and his influence over Republican lawmakers hesitant to support Ukraine’s defense against Russia.

Jeremy Shapiro, a research director at the European Council on Foreign Relations, does not anticipate Harris or Blinken making any commitments about potential policies under a Trump administration. He expects them to convey a straightforward message: "We’re going to win the election."

During the conference, Harris is scheduled to meet with U.S. lawmakers, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz. Her performance will be scrutinized closely, particularly amid ongoing concerns regarding Biden’s age, as he campaigns for reelection at 81 years old while Trump is 77 and both candidates have exchanged accusations regarding mental acuity.

The backdrop of the conference is Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, which has jolted a continent that has long sought peace under U.S. security commitments to NATO—commitments that Trump has suggested he might reconsider.

Recently, the Senate approved a substantial military aid package for Ukraine and other nations, but political divisions in the Republican-controlled House of Representatives may hinder its progress due to Trump’s opposition.

Trump has voiced concerns at political rallies about what he has called "delinquent" NATO member payments, claiming to have referenced a past conversation with the leader of a major country relating to a potential Russian attack. He stated, "No, I would not protect you. In fact, I would encourage them (Russia) to do whatever the hell they want. You gotta pay," alluding to the financial expectations of NATO members.

The NATO treaty includes a mutual defense clause, promising support if any member state is attacked. Biden condemned Trump’s remarks as an endorsement of Russian aggression and emphasized the urgency of funding for Ukraine.

Upon taking office in 2021, Biden aimed to strengthen alliances weakened by Trump’s isolationist policies during his presidency from 2017 to 2021, achieving considerable progress until recent events. Rachel Rizzo, a senior fellow at the Atlantic Council, noted that the current stalemate in Congress puts pressure on the administration to fulfill its commitments to European allies, making Harris and Blinken’s reassurance efforts all the more crucial.