US Allies See 2 More Years of Retreat Despite Trump's Midterm Rebuke
Updated
Updated · The Washington Post · Nov 7
US Allies See 2 More Years of Retreat Despite Trump's Midterm Rebuke
2 articles · Updated · The Washington Post · Nov 7
Summary
Allies in Europe, Canada and Asia greeted Republicans’ midterm losses with relief but little celebration, saying the vote did not restore confidence that Washington will resume its old leadership role.
Post-election surveys showed voters were driven mainly by the economy and other domestic concerns, reinforcing allied views that the America First turn extends beyond Trump and deeper into U.S. politics.
That reading has already pushed partners to hedge: Five Eyes members have explored wider trade ties, while Germany, Japan and South Korea are boosting defenses after U.S. disruptions to Ukraine support.
Trump still has 2 years as a lame-duck president, and allies fear Congress can do little to restrain unilateral foreign-policy moves even under Democratic control.
For European security officials, the broader lesson is that reliance on U.S. guarantees is no longer a safe long-term assumption.