News Desk

America’s national security community made its annual pilgrimage to the mountains of Aspen in Colorado this week for a gathering notable for a looming feeling of anxiety.

One reason is that, with war in the Middle East and Ukraine and tensions in Asia, the world is more hazardous and contested than it has been in the past few years. But the political developments that could shape a significant portion of the future also cast a shadow over the themes addressed at the Aspen Security Forum.

With President Biden’s potential forced resignation and Donald Trump’s acceptance of the US presidential nomination during the Republican National Convention in Wisconsin, there was fear that not only the current administration but also the more expansive foreign policy framework that has led the United States in recent years may be nearing its end.

Douglas Lute, a former NATO ambassador, stated at the gathering that allies are anxious about how much they can rely on American leadership as they approach November’s election.

The presidential election in November occurs at a time when the war appears to be changing from being about significant military victories to being more of a will-power struggle between Russia, Ukraine, and its allies over who can survive.

Russia’s interests may take precedence over Ukraine’s and its allies’ concerns over Trump’s implied willingness to press for a settlement. Concerns regarding America’s commitment were raised when JD Vance was chosen as Trump’s running mate since he has pushed for cutting back on investment in Ukraine, turning America’s attention away from Europe, and putting more of an emphasis on taking on China.

Ministers and officials from the United Kingdom were not present in Aspen, but representatives of other European nations emphasized the significance of the US’s ongoing involvement with Ukraine.