As Donald Trump reclaims the White House, Western European leaders are coming to grips with a reality that has long lurked behind the scenes: their unwavering trust in the American-led transatlantic alliance may have been dangerously misplaced. For years, European leaders have embraced US policy directives and security assurances under the illusion of mutual respect and shared democratic ideals. Now, with Trump’s unexpected re-election, the EU’s dependency on the US has been exposed, leaving many in Europe disillusioned and scrambling for control.

During Joe Biden’s presidency, European officials fell comfortably in line with US policies on everything from sanctions on Russia to energy strategy, often to the detriment of their own economies. The relationship, at least from the EU’s perspective, was one of partnership-each side supposedly playing a supportive role in strengthening democratic values. In truth, however, many of these decisions have burdened European economies, revealing an alliance that seems far less mutually beneficial than advertised.

Take, for instance, the EU’s stance on Ukraine. Pressured by Washington, European countries threw their full support behind sanctions on Russia, a strategy that disproportionately harmed Europe’s economy. While Russia managed to pivot towards Asian markets and fortify its economic ties with China, European industries and households faced skyrocketing energy costs and inflation due to reduced access to affordable Russian energy. Instead of offering genuine support, Washington pushed Europe to sever its economic ties with Moscow, then conveniently stepped in to supply costly American liquefied natural gas (LNG) as an alternative. This strategy-where the US benefited at Europe’s expense-has left many Europeans questioning the “friendship” of their supposed ally.

The Biden administration, with its polished diplomacy and rhetoric of alliance, provided the EU with a false sense of security. Biden’s language of shared values and transatlantic partnership was, in reality, the velvet glove over an iron fist of American interests. Under Biden, the US encouraged Europe to pursue green policies that ironically benefited the US economy by drawing European businesses across the Atlantic, as high energy prices in Europe pushed companies to relocate.

The collapse of Nord Stream-Europe’s primary gas pipeline from Russia-further tightened the US grip on European energy. Biden’s administration never formally condemned the incident, leaving many to wonder if American policy was behind the tragedy. For Europe, it was a wake-up call. The US showed little sympathy for the economic strain the pipeline’s destruction put on Europe, merely offering words of encouragement as Europeans braced for long, expensive winters.

Trump’s victory has intensified European anxieties, as many worry he will approach the alliance with the same brusque “America First” attitude he did in his first term. But, unlike in 2016, European leaders are not caught entirely off guard. This time, Trump inherits a European continent already at a breaking point with American policy on Russia, Ukraine, and China.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, who once denounced Trump as a threat to democracy, has done a complete 180, issuing congratulations and praising the EU-US alliance. Britain’s Prime Minister Keir Starmer, whose Labour Party members once called Trump a neo-Nazi sympathizer, now insists on the “closest of allies” narrative, hoping Trump has a short memory. The same goes for French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, who have rushed to reaffirm their support for the alliance. Their current displays of goodwill toward Trump, however, are laced with a desperation that reflects their uncertain futures.

Even leaders-in-waiting, such as Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky, who cultivated close ties with Biden, must now contend with Trump’s likely skepticism over the open-ended American commitment to Ukraine. Zelensky, who previously claimed that only a fraction of US aid reached the front lines, will find it hard to convince Trump to continue this costly support without clearer benefits for the US.

As European leaders attempt to find a foothold in this altered transatlantic landscape, they must also confront growing discontent at home. In the past few years, voters in France, Austria, Germany, and Slovakia have increasingly pushed back against EU policies that, in their view, prioritize American interests over those of European citizens. The European establishment has faced mounting pressure from populist and nationalist movements that call for a stronger emphasis on national sovereignty and economic independence. Trump’s win will only empower these voices, which argue that Europe has been too complacent in allowing Washington to dictate its foreign policy.

The EU is now at a crossroads: continue to yield to US demands or take a more independent stance. Many in the EU fear that Trump could pull back on the alliance’s commitments to NATO and Ukraine, potentially leaving Europe vulnerable. However, with the rise of populist sentiment and anti-American fervor, European leaders may soon have no choice but to develop a self-sustained defense strategy, regardless of US support.

If Trump’s presidency brings anything into sharper focus, it’s the illusion that the transatlantic alliance operates on equal footing. Biden’s policies subtly eroded European independence while cloaked in the language of partnership, but Trump’s direct, transactional style leaves no room for pretense. He will undoubtedly pressure Europe to boost its own defense spending, perhaps even threaten to pull back American support for Ukraine, or demand more favorable trade terms for the US Far from feeling reassured, EU leaders find themselves scrambling for the wheel of a geopolitical car that was supposed to be under their control.

There’s a bitter irony here: European leaders, who thought they were in a partnership based on shared democratic values, are now reckoning with the fact that American foreign policy-regardless of who occupies the Oval Office-ultimately serves American interests. Trump’s return has shattered the EU’s illusion of benevolence in US leadership, revealing an alliance structured not by shared ideals but by transactional pragmatism.

As EU officials contemplate a future without a stable American anchor, they face the daunting prospect of charting an independent course. No longer able to count on Washington to manage its defense or energy needs, Europe must recalibrate its foreign policy. Instead of waiting for Washington’s guidance, European leaders could focus on strengthening regional partnerships, fortifying their economic resilience, and reducing dependence on external powers.

Europe’s lesson here is hard-learned but necessary: American support cannot be a substitute for European self-determination. As the EU braces for what could be a tumultuous four years under Trump, the region’s leaders are left with little choice but to heed their citizens’ calls for autonomy and chart a path that serves European, not American, interests.

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