International

Chicago Convention: Key issues for Kamala Harris and US politics

Thousands of delegates, agents, diplomats, and journalists have been arriving in Chicago, USA, since yesterday for the Democratic National Convention.

The focus throughout the week will be on Vice President Kamala Harris, who is set to be officially nominated as the party's candidate for the presidential election in November.

Europe is closely watching the electoral process in the United States. If Kamala Harris can deliver a successful convention in Chicago and maintain the momentum that transformed the Democratic campaign over the past month, it will be significant not only for the future of US politics but also for the transatlantic relationship. However, the focus in Chicago will extend beyond the speeches delivered by Harris (on Thursday evening) and her running mate, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz.

Europeans will also be very interested in getting closer to Harris's inner circle. This is partly because there is little expectation that Jake Sullivan, the current National Security Advisor to President Joe Biden, and Secretary of State Antony Blinken, will retain their positions in a potential Kamala Harris administration.

Many in Europe were initially sceptical of Kamala Harris due to a lack of familiarity with the Vice President and her relatively limited experience in foreign policy before joining the White House. Neither Harris nor Walz spent much time discussing Europe, NATO, or Ukraine during the campaign, although they are expected to largely remain aligned with Biden, particularly regarding the latter: military aid to Ukraine is anticipated to continue.

Another pressing question is how Harris will handle trade policy with Europe, given that Biden’s Inflation Reduction Act and its “Buy American” slogan have caused tensions with the EU and the United Kingdom.

The race remains extremely tight, and Trump would need to win only one of the so-called Blue Wall states—Michigan, Pennsylvania, or Wisconsin—(assuming he wins all the other states where he currently leads) to reclaim the White House.

Harris has managed to avoid much of the economic scrutiny that has affected Biden’s campaign, but the economy remains a challenging issue for Democrats, with many Americans still concerned about inflation, despite improving trends.

Similarly, there is keen interest in how Kamala Harris will address the Palestinian issue and the Gaza conflict. Chicago, after all, is considered the Palestinian capital in the USA, and large protest demonstrations are being organised.

Author: Dan Alexe

Translation by Iurie Tataru

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