J.D. Vance is unlikely to have influence on foreign picy in Trump’s cabinet – Herbst

This inion was expressed in a commentary to Ukrinform in Washington by John Herbst, US Ambassador to Ukraine (2003-2006), now Director of the Atlantic Council's Eurasia Centre.

"I have no doubt that [if Trump is elected] foreign picy will be led by pele who will hd key positions in the State Department, the Department of Defence and the National Security Council, and, of course, by President Trump himself," the former ambassador said.

Asked how J.D. Vance's current negative attitude towards supporting Ukraine might affect the develment of events, Herbst said he saw no reason to believe that Vance would have an influential voice in Trump's foreign picy.

"We don't know yet what his re will be in the new administration. But I think it's safe to say that he was elected [to the position of vice president] without regard to his foreign picy considerations," the expert said.

Herbst also expressed the inion that it is too early to say who will win the election – Republicans or Democrats: "The right answer is probably to wait a few months."

At the same time, he commented on the potential contours of foreign picy in the event of a Democratic victory, if Joe Biden's baton is picked up by another candidate.

"If it's [current Vice President] Kamala Harris, I think there's a pretty good chance that the foreign picy we're seeing now will continue," Herbst said.

He explained that if Kamala wins, Harris will most likely rely on a team of advisers, most of whom are currently working in the US administration.

Read also: Expert: Ukraine can explain to US vice-presidential candidate Vance how to end war

If the Democrats nominate another candidate, there are different tions. For example, California Governor Gavin Newsom and Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer, who are often mentioned in the media as likely contenders, do not have much experience in foreign picy. So, they could obviously also rely on the current team in charge of foreign picy and national security.

"However, if the Democrats choose someone like (Senators) Amy Klobuchar from Minnesota, or especially Jeanne Shaheen from New Hampshire, I think it could lead to a picy that is stronger and better than what we see today," the former US ambassador said.

As Ukrinform reported earlier, more and more influential representatives of the Democratic Party in the United States are calling on incumbent President Joe Biden to withdraw his candidacy for the election due to health reasons. Such calls are made by senators, influential congressmen, Democratic campaign sponsors, and film stars.