US Elections Open Window of Hope for Europe Amid Fears of Trump's Continued and Volatile Policies

By Amina Ridan, Brussels, Nov 4 (KUNA) -- The Democrats’ victory in securing a majority in the U.S. Congress in the midterm elections has sparked relief in Europe, seen as an opportunity to curb the controversial policies of U.S. President Donald Trump and restore balance to transatlantic relations, albeit with caution regarding their implications for foreign policy. In this context, European Union High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Kaja Kallas expressed hope at a press conference in Brussels on Wednesday that the U.S. Congress would continue to support Ukraine and increase pressure on Russia following these elections. Kallas stated that American voters had “clearly made their choice,” emphasizing that Europe and the United States are “much stronger when they work together” to send clear messages to Russia.

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez welcomed the results, viewing them as an indicator of a retreat in the far-right wave, and said, “The far-right wave is no longer expanding; it has begun to crumble.” Sanchez added in a post on the X platform that American voters had voted against policies that increase poverty and hatred, and against climate change denial and elite privileges.

For her part, European Parliament Vice-President Christel Schaldemose expressed cautious optimism about the results’ impact on Europe, suggesting they could contribute to strengthening support for Ukraine, the green transition, and improving relations with the rest of the world. Schaldemose stressed in a post on X that the European Union must continue its path toward enhancing its strength and self-reliance, asserting that this direction is “not up for debate.”

Meanwhile, Bernd Lange, chair of the European Parliament’s International Trade Committee, described the results in a post on X as a “blue wave” – referring to the Democrats – and a “perfect” victory for American democracy and a severe blow to Trump and his policies, noting that voters had sent a clear message to the U.S. president. However, he warned that weakening Trump might make him “more prone to escalation and less predictable.” He affirmed that while the Democratic victory could create more room for dialogue and cooperation, it would not end U.S. protectionist policies, and the EU must not remain hostage to U.S. policies but instead be able to defend its interests independently.

Regarding the war in Ukraine, European capitals hope the new Democratic majority in Congress will help increase pressure on the U.S. administration to continue supporting Kyiv and tighten sanctions on Russia, particularly since Democrats have shown greater support for the Ukrainian position. However, Brussels does not expect Washington to return to its previous role as Ukraine’s primary funder.

In the security sphere, European countries are awaiting the results of the U.S. Department of Defense’s review of U.S. troop deployments in Europe, to be revealed in December, amid concerns about a potential reduction of the U.S. military presence on the continent. Although the Democratic victory may strengthen congressional opposition to any U.S. troop withdrawal, Europeans emphasize the need to take greater responsibility for their own security, enhance their defense capabilities, and reduce dependence on Washington.

U.S. tariffs remain one of the most prominent points of disagreement between the two sides, as the Republican defeat does not appear sufficient to push Trump to back down from his protectionist policy, which constitutes one of the pillars of his economic agenda.

Despite the possibility that Democrats will seek to ease some tariffs as part of their efforts to curb inflation, the continuation of a large portion of them remains likely given limited American public support for abolishing tariffs on European products. Nevertheless, European circles do not rule out that narrowing Trump’s room for maneuver on domestic issues could spur him to pursue a more aggressive foreign policy in an effort to achieve international accomplishments that bolster his political legacy, potentially exacerbating uncertainty regarding Ukraine, the Middle East, relations with Russia, and the future of the U.S. military presence in Europe. In this context, European officials view the election results as an opportunity to strengthen dialogue with the U.S. Congress, while also serving as a reminder of the need to accelerate efforts toward European strategic autonomy and diversify trade and defense partnerships, thereby ensuring the EU’s capacity to safeguard its interests and security regardless of political changes in Washington. Preliminary results of the 2026 U.S. midterm elections show the Democratic Party winning a majority of seats in both chambers of Congress. According to non-final results, Democrats secured a majority in the 100-seat Senate with 54 seats compared to 44 for Republicans, flipping seven states in their favor and gaining 25 new seats previously held by their opponents. In the House of Representatives elections, Democrats have so far won 228 seats out of a total of 435, compared to 139 for Republicans, with vote counting still ongoing. (End) A.R.N. / A.M.S.