From Brussels to Warsaw, Troubled Europe Reckons with Trump — and Itself

Frida Ghitis: Donald Trump's reelection promises to reveal and change as much about Europe as the U.S. She says there are many Europes in one : Different attitudes and approaches to themselves and to their most important partner in the United States .

Ghitis says Europe was put off by America ’s cultural and national fervors and will be put off in what may follow: isolationism that calls into question America”s commitment to defend Europe and protectionism that could rupture the relationship.

Frida Ghitis : In public, the Ukrainians and the Europeans in NATO were grateful to President Joe Biden for arming the Ukrainians to stop the Russian onslaught.

She says there’s less existential dread at NATO than in 2017 , when Trump made those threats.

Ghitis says the realistic case for a strong transatlantic relationship can and probably has to be made in Trumpian terms.

Germany 's so-called traffic light coalition collapsed the day after Trump ’s election.

It betrayed hopes that Germany would make a Zeitenwende , the “turning point” proclaimed by Chancellor Olaf Scholz .

Olaf is seen as indecisive and weak at a moment when Europe craves strong leadership on Ukraine .

Germany 's economic model of export-driven manufacturing, humming for a good part of this century , is broken.

The most stable governments in big European states are in Poland and Italy .