The spectre of a second Donald Trump presidency is casting a long, dark shadow over Europe, with senior officials and analysts warning that the transatlantic alliance may never recover from another four years of his 'America First' doctrine.
Unlike his first term, which many in European capitals dismissed as a temporary disruption, a return to power is viewed not as an anomaly but as a permanent seismic shift in US foreign policy. The core belief that America will ultimately return to its traditional role as Europe's guarantor is fading, replaced by a grim acceptance of a new, more isolated reality.
A Fundamental Fracture in the West
The anxiety stems from a conviction that Trump's transactional view of international relations is fundamentally incompatible with the post-war liberal order. NATO, the bedrock of European security for 75 years, is now seen as vulnerable to being hollowed out or even abandoned.
"The first term was a shock, but there was always the hope it was a one-off," a senior European diplomat was quoted as saying. "A second term would signal a definitive break. The trust is gone, and it won't come back."
Europe's Stark Wake-Up Call
This looming threat has become Europe's most urgent wake-up call. The conversation has decisively shifted from how to manage Trump to how to survive without unwavering American support. The continent is now forced to confront uncomfortable questions about its own defence capabilities, strategic autonomy, and role in a world where it can no longer rely on its most powerful ally.
The article suggests that Europe is woefully unprepared for this eventuality. Decades of reliance on US military might through NATO have left European defence spending and coordination lacking. The potential withdrawal of the US nuclear umbrella presents a terrifying scenario for which there is no immediate European answer.
An Alliance Changed Forever
Ultimately, the analysis presents a stark conclusion: even if the transatlantic partnership survives in name, its character will be irrevocably altered. The mutual trust and shared values that defined the special relationship will have been replaced by a cold, pragmatic and fragile arrangement.
The era of the US-led West is drawing to a close, and a second Trump term would be its final chapter, forcing Europe to stand on its own in an increasingly dangerous world.
