Behind the warm congratulations to President George Bush and the hopeful messages about shared values and interests adopted yesterday in Brussels by European Union leaders, there was continuing concern about the consequences of his re-election for US-European relations. This mirrors similar concerns elsewhere in the world. Mr Bush must decide now how he will respond to them in terms of policy, style and the appointment of his new administration. A great deal will depend on his decisions for the international power, influence and standing of the United States.
According to the Brussels communique "the EU and its member-states look forward to working very closely with President Bush and his new administration to combine efforts, including in multilateral institutions, to promote the rule of law and create a just, democratic and secure world". The codeword "multilateral" and the reference to the rule of law tap into disquiet over US attitudes to the United Nations, international treaties and over Mr Bush's stated preference for unilateral actions to defend American citizens and interests.
In his press conference on Thursday, he said he intends to improve his country's image abroad, but not the policies from which the deterioration in it have stemmed. He had "taken some very hard decisions" to protect the US and to "spread peace and freedom". He believes that "when the American president speaks he'd better mean what he says in order to keep the world peaceful". He "will reach out to others and explain why I made the decisions I made". He believes the US and its allies have common enemies in Iraq and elsewhere. And understandably, he insists he has a popular mandate for his policies, which international partners and adversaries must understand.
There is not much here to reassure European and other leaders concerned that if there is more continuity than change in US foreign policy the world is in for a turbulent and contentious four years. In Brussels the debate on how to respond to a second Bush term arose across a span of issues, from the weakening dollar to the imminent assault on Falluja and aid to Iraq, and the central question of a new peace initiative in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
The political dynamics of second term presidencies are different to first term ones. Mr Bush no longer has to cultivate his Republican base aggressively, as he did so successfully in the presidential campaign, but can afford to seek a more lasting historical reputation at home and abroad. He may have more leeway internationally than on domestic policy. He will also be more constrained in his foreign policy by stiffening opposition in Europe and Asia to the unilateral exercise of US military power without political support. Despite his electoral triumph, the US has lost much influence, respect - and therefore power - over the last four years, which it needs to regain between now and 2008.