Allies Watch U.S. Vote With Care, Cautious Hope
European and African leaders reacted to the Republican midterm defeat with relief, though analysts warn that President Trump retains wide latitude in foreign policy for his remaining two years.
By Jonathan Hoffmann ·
Two years remain in Donald Trump's presidency, a fact that tempers the relief felt by international allies after the Republican Party's defeat in the November midterm elections. World leaders who have clashed with the U.S. president's "America First" doctrine watched the results on Wednesday with a mix of hope and hesitation. The loss suggests a potential shift toward a less combative U.S. foreign policy, yet it does not immediately resolve existing conflicts.
Progressive politicians framed the American result as part of a global trend, citing recent electoral setbacks for right-wing populists in Hungary, Brazil, and Serbia. Spain's Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez posted on X that Americans voted against hatred, machismo, and climate denialism. He added that a similar political shift would soon occur in Spain, where he faces elections on November 29. Norway's Foreign Minister Espen Barth Eide stated that the majority of U.S. voters signaled they had enough of the MAGA movement and wanted a different direction.
British Prime Minister Andy Burnham expressed hope that the election would focus Washington on ending the war with Iran. He noted that the conflict has driven up fuel prices, a major source of voter frustration. Speaking during a visit to the Commonwealth summit in Antigua, Burnham said the world has a chance to unite on the cost of living. However, he acknowledged he cannot reduce that pressure until the Middle East conflict and the war in Ukraine are resolved.
Cautious voices in Europe warned that a rapid change in U.S. policy is unlikely because Trump remains in power for another two years. The president has criticized European leaders on immigration and wind farms, shaken economies with tariffs, and threatened to withdraw from NATO. He has also expressed a desire to take control of Greenland, a semi-autonomous territory of Denmark. Austria's Foreign Minister Beate Meinl-Reisinger argued that European security and prosperity should not depend on how people vote in states like Kansas or Iowa. She said this is why Austria is strengthening its own defense and competitiveness.
Laurel Rapp, who directs the U.S. and North America program at Chatham House, said there will be no "we're back" moment in relations between the U.S. and Europe. She does not expect the election to significantly change the administration's transactional approach, which is marked by deep skepticism about Europe's value in defense. The administration has pressured Ukraine to end the war Russia began in 2022. Ukraine accused Washington of delaying vital interceptor missile deliveries and said a temporary interruption of Starlink internet service hindered its defense against Russian attacks.
Last month, Trump lifted sanctions on Russia despite Congress approving them as part of aid legislation. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said on Wednesday that Russia expects Trump to continue his peace efforts regardless of the election outcome. In Germany, Jürgen Hardt, a senior legislator for Chancellor Friedrich Merz's center-right bloc, told ARD he expects Trump to act with more sense in foreign affairs. South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, who has faced unfounded claims from Trump regarding discrimination against white South Africans, said Democratic control of both congressional chambers would present a new era in world relations.
Rapp noted that while the new Congress may limit Trump domestically, his authority in foreign policy remains broad. She said Trump retains a wide margin to use many foreign policy tools as he sees fit. Although Democrats plan to vote on the war with Iran, she said it will be difficult to significantly limit his unilateral actions in this area.
