Why Poland’s Donald Tusk is best placed to be Europe’s ‘Trump whisperer’ | Paul Taylor
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As France and Germany struggle, Poland’s prime minister has the advantage of being well respected on both sides of the Atlantic. With France and Germany hobbled by political crises and Britain sidelined as a result of Brexit, the Polish prime minister, Donald Tusk, may be the last national statesman standing to marshal Europe’s response to Donald Trump’s impending return to the White House.
![[Paul Taylor]](https://i.guim.co.uk/img/uploads/2023/12/01/Paul_Taylor.png?width=180&dpr=1&s=none&crop=none)
Buffeted by economic, diplomatic and political threats on all sides, the old continent is ill prepared for a new chapter in which Vladimir Putin is pressing his military advantage in Ukraine before Trump can try to force a peace deal that could damage the interests of Ukrainians and Europeans. Trump, who has spoken of letting Russia do “whatever the hell they want” with Nato countries that don’t spend enough on defence, is also threatening massive tariffs against his closest allies that could split Europe and trigger a damaging transatlantic trade war.
Enter Tusk, a seasoned centre-right leader who once chaired EU summits, who has defeated rightwing populists at home and maintains good relations with the US, the UK, the European Commission president, Ursula von der Leyen, and the Nato secretary general, Mark Rutte. By chance, Poland takes over the rotating EU presidency from maverick Hungary in the first half of 2025, giving it a chance to shape the agenda in these crucial months. Trump may hate Brussels but he likes Poland, where he received a warm welcome during his first presidency.
