European leaders quickly offered congratulations to Donald Trump on his election victory, even as results remained unofficial. The twenty-seven member bloc extended a hand to the Republican to build a strong transatlantic partnership while reaffirming a strategic agenda that safeguards EU autonomy in a world that feels increasingly volatile.
“The EU and the United States are more than allies. We share a genuine partnership that connects 800 million people,” said the president of the European Commission in a statement, urging Trump to work to strengthen that bond. Yet Europe knows that with Trump in the White House, nothing is guaranteed, and two messages were delivered. (Source: European Commission statements)
The first message urged respect for the unsettled global environment. German leadership stressed that this bond grows out of a shared history and a commitment to freedom, democracy and security. There is lingering fear that Trump could alter the United States stance on the Ukraine conflict and on the Middle East. (Source: European leadership briefings)
The second message touched on economics. A major worry for the EU is the risk of a protectionist and aggressive trade policy with the potential to raise tariffs on imports. “Millions of jobs and billions in trade and investment on both sides of the Atlantic depend on the dynamism and stability of our economic ties,” urged the European Commission president. (Source: European Commission remarks)
Roberta Metsola, president of the European Parliament, also reinforced that stance in her statement. “Europe stands ready to cooperate on geopolitical challenges without wavering. To keep the transatlantic bond strong, which springs from our shared values of freedom, human rights and open markets,” she declared. (Source: European Parliament remarks)
But Europe is mainly preparing to turn inward. The president of the European Council, Charles Michel, said the bloc looks forward to further strengthening cooperation with the United States. Yet the union will continue its course with a strategic agenda that positions it as a strong, united, competitive and sovereign partner, while defending the rules-based multilateral order. (Source: European Council statements)
Meanwhile, NATO’s leadership offered a reminder of the alliance’s advantages. The alliance’s secretary general noted that through NATO, the United States has 31 friends and partners who advance shared interests, magnify influence, and bolster security. Together, the NATO Allies represent a substantial portion of the world’s economic and military power. (Source: NATO statements)
Officials also indicated that upon inauguration, the alliance would be received by a stronger, larger and more united partnership. They emphasized ongoing efforts to meet the goal of allocating a larger share of national income to defense, a topic long of interest to Trump. (Source: NATO communications)
In Budapest, where the European Political Community convenes, a dinner for the twenty-seven was planned to discuss relations with the United States in a private forum. Viktor Orban was set to host the gathering, underscoring the importance of the moment for European unity. (Source: EPC summaries)
Past remarks from Orban hinted at celebration if Trump returns to power, though not all participants shared the same mood. The sense of uncertainty surrounding a new U.S. presidency was palpable among the other twenty-six leaders. (Source: European leadership briefings)
A senior European official suggested that the best approach to the U.S. relationship is to broaden the focus beyond Washington and to look at Europe first. The lines of cooperation that existed before the victory were not expected to change, and French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz had already started to coordinate. (Source: senior official statements)
“Europe’s own agenda is to become stronger, less dependent and to maintain an open economy,” the same source added. “We want prosperity, stability, peace and security for our citizens,” it reiterated. (Source: European sources)
Yet the peace and stability Europe seeks will primarily depend on the choices made by Donald Trump, now again at the helm of the White House. “The EU is likely to remain the same in practice,” a high-level official observed. “As far as support for Ukraine goes, we hope the leaders will continue to stand firm,” the official added. (Source: European officials)
The feeling in Brussels is that Trump’s first term looked like a transactional, pragmatic approach that was relatively predictable. The second term could be more unpredictable and potentially riskier. Institutions have spent months preparing for this scenario, and now the focus shifts to the numbers in Congress and Senate and to who will sit at the decision table during the inauguration in January. (Source: EU institutional briefings)