Bad to worse? Europe’s relief over US midterms tempered by prospect of Trump backlash

The Star Malaysia · South China Morning Post · 2026-11-06 14:55 UTC

Europe welcomes Democratic landslide, but fears over Ukraine, trade disputes and defence spending mute optimism

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After almost two years in which the transatlantic alliance verged on collapse, a Democratic landslide in the US midterm elections was welcomed in Europe on Wednesday, even if few believed it would be a panacea for ailing ties.

The Democratic Party swept both chambers of the US Congress in a crushing rebuke of US President Donald Trump’s two-year record. For Europe, that period has led to a shattering of the post-war order and deep schisms in the Western coalition.

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