Bangladesh, Sept. 8 -- As European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen prepares to deliver her annual State of the Union address, she faces a moment of extraordinary pressure. The European Union is once again caught in the crossfire of US President Donald Trumps unpredictable trade wars. Despite the handshake deal struck in July, intended to restore stability and predictability, Trump has already escalated threats on social media against Europe, signaling that the transatlantic relationship remains fragile and volatile.

At stake is far more than the terms of trade: Europes sovereignty, credibility as a global economic power, and even the durability of its democratic institutions. If Brussels continues to miscalculate, it risks redu...