Europe should not 'depend' on US vote

Top EU official Charles Michel has said the bloc's future should not rely on the result of the US election, as he suggested both Donald Trump and Kamala Harris would stick to protectionist policies.

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“There are some differences between Harris and Trump for sure,” outgoing European Council president Michel said on Thursday.

“In the short term, it will be different. But in the mid term, in the long term, are we certain that it will be fundamentally different?”

EU countries are nervously eyeing the nail-biting ballot across the Atlantic next month that could bring volatile former president Trump back to power.

The vote comes at a critical juncture for the EU as Russia's full-scale invasion of its neighbour Ukraine grinds on towards a fourth year.

Trump has rattled Washington's European allies by threatening to upend Nato, cut a quick deal with Moscow on Ukraine and impose trade tariffs.