Xavier Bettel: "Donald Trump is the 'Game changer' in politics"

Xavier Bettel, former prime minister of Luxembourg, in an interview with Paperjam noted Donald Trump's unpredictability as a politician. According to him, Trump is a business man who tends to be straightforward and "transactional." Despite the criticism, Bettel does not rule out that Trump could unblock certain diplomatic deadlocks, as may have happened with the Gaza ceasefire agreement.

However, the politician avoided a specific assessment of Trump's contribution to the agreement, emphasising that only one thing is important - the suffering of civilians must stop. This statement reflects a sceptical but pragmatic approach to international politics, where what matters is the result, not the method of achieving it.

Bettel emphasises the need for European independence in the defence and economic spheres. He believes that while co-operation with the US is important, the EU must be able to face threats on its own. The politician notes a significant increase in Luxembourg's defence spending, which, in his opinion, has become inevitable in light of Russia's aggression against Ukraine.

Bettel admits that events in recent years have changed his view of the role of defence. "I have always believed that co-operation is the best way to ensure security. But Russia has shown that neighbours can be unreliable." Nevertheless, he does not support militarisation as a panacea and warns against seeking a balance between defence and diplomacy.

In the interview, Bettel emphasises China as a possible mediator in conflicts. He cites U.S. Secretary of State Anthony Blinken, who argued that it was China that played a key role in preventing Russia from using nuclear weapons. Bettel calls for avoiding a strengthened alliance between China and Russia as it could destabilise the global balance of power.

Bettel is reticent about the idea of preparing the Luxembourg population for a possible war, as Sweden and Finland are doing. He believes that the fears of the Scandinavian countries are justified by their geographical location, but for Luxembourg war is not an immediate threat. The politician warns against excessive panic and emphasises the importance of maintaining stability.

Xavier Bettel offers a balanced view of the current geopolitical situation. His main idea is that long-term peace is only possible through compromise, strategic autonomy for Europe and enhanced international co-operation. However, the realisation of these goals remains a complex challenge in the context of global instability.