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The 45th president of America will bring down the bloc by pitting member states against each other, according to Wolfgang Ischinger. The chairman of the Munich Security Conference said even regardless of Mr Trump’s actions, “it is no exaggeration to say that the EU’s future lies in the balance”. In an article for Time magazine, he said “the election of Donald Trump has created unprecedented uncertainties.”

GETTY Donald Trump will destroy the EU, a security expert has claimed

He continued: “There is a real risk that the US might seek to deal with European allies on a bilateral basis rather than through established channels like the EU and NATO - maybe even trying to pit individual states against one another with potentially devastating consequences.”

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He said the Republican’s relations with Russia may also lead to greater instability within the union. Mr Ischinger said: “Depending on how the Trump administration intends to approach Russia, we may see growing trans-atlantic and intra-European rifts - not least over sanctions and what to do about Ukraine.”

GETTY The EU has suffered a calamitous 2016 - and 2017 could be even worse

Mr Ischinger, who also teaches at the Hertie School of Governance in Germany, added France’s presidential election next year could be the final nail in the EU coffin. He said: “European politics are at a critical juncture. Key moments come on April 23 and May 7, when France votes in two rounds of presidential elections.

“If the far-right National Front’s Marine Le Pen defies expectations to win, the EU could start to disintegrate.” He also said Brexit and other EU elections could also have a devastating effect.

GETTY Donald Trump may pit EU states against each other

GETTY The 45th president of America may negotiate with countries individually rather than through the EU