When the head of the largest military alliance in the world calls the president of the United States “daddy,” you’d be forgiven for thinking that it’s all over for the functional independence, much less dignity, of the subordinate children.

The on-stage masterclass in deference this past summer from Mark Rutte, secretary-general of NATO and former Dutch prime minister, toward U.S. President Donald Trump may mark the most telling moment in Europe’s abrogation of power. Europeans must hope it marks something less bleak, the search for a new modus operandi in a more performative world.

When the head of the largest military alliance in the world calls the president of the United States “daddy,” you’d be forgiven for thinking that it’s all over for the functional independence, much less dignity, of the subordinate children.

The on-stage masterclass in deference this past summer from Mark Rutte, secretary-general of NATO and former Dutch prime minister, toward U.S. President Donald Trump may mark the most telling moment in Europe’s abrogation of power. Europeans must hope it marks something less bleak, the search for a new modus operandi in a more performative world.

There have been many moments during the first year of Trump’s second term that might rival the one in June, when European NATO members feared that without concerted love-bombing, the United States might go rogue and abandon an alliance that has kept the West safe for nearly eight decades.

That is why Rutte did what he did, why French President Emmanuel Macron put his hand on Trump’s knee, and why the British royal family did the decent thing and fawned over Trump during his lavish and unprecedented second state visit to the United Kingdom.

Behind these rituals of ego, is there more going on? Recent events in the Middle East suggest that there is—that the demotion of Europe is for real.

Trump provided several put-downs of European leaders during his victory lap in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt, hours after Hamas released 20 Israeli hostages as part of a cease-fire deal with Israel. He beckoned U.K.........

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