PDB Afternoon bulletin | July 24th, 2024: EU 'Excited' About Kamala' & Threats To The Paris Olympics

- European officials are cautiously optimistic about Kamala Harris's candidacy for the U.S. presidency, seeing her as a continuation of Biden's policies, particularly regarding NATO and the strategy in Ukraine. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz even praised Harris for her competence and experience.

- The optimism from European leaders is tempered by concerns about Harris's ability to defeat Trump. An anonymous EU diplomat underscored the uncertainty, noting that Harris's different profile compared to Trump could impact election dynamics.

- European leaders are particularly worried about the future of NATO should Trump return to power, as they fear he might undermine the alliance and the current strategy in Ukraine. To counter this, NATO has institutionalized its role in overseeing weapons shipments to Ukraine, aiming to "Trump-proof" its support.

- French police arrested a 40-year-old Russian man suspected of plans to destabilize the Paris Summer Olympics. During a raid on his residence, evidence was found that suggested disinformation or other forms of attack, though specifics remain undisclosed. The suspect is believed to have possible connections to the Russian Federal Security Service.

- Heightened security measures for the Paris Olympics include investigating over a million individuals and denying access to over 4,000 people due to suspicions of foreign interference. This is part of France's largest ever peacetime security operation, reflecting broader international tensions, particularly with Russia.

- The arrest of the Russian suspect comes amid other security incidents, including the detention of a Ukrainian-Russian man after an explosion in a hotel room and the arrest of a French researcher in Russia on espionage charges. These events have strained Franco-Russian relations further.

- The Paris Olympics, set to open with a ceremony along the Seine River, will proceed under unprecedented security measures designed to protect against a range of threats, highlighting the complex international backdrop of the event.