The transatlantic partnership between the United States and Europe is facing a crisis of trust and shared values. Senior Trump administration officials’ comments have sparked shock and dismay among European leaders, who fear that the relationship is fraying beyond repair.
The rift began to show during President George W. Bush’s “war of choice” in Iraq in 2003, followed by President Barack Obama’s criticism of NATO partners as “free riders.” However, the latest remarks from Vice President JD Vance have raised concerns that this is more than a passing disagreement.
Vance’s comments on European politics, particularly his excoriating remarks about Germany’s governing style and his decision to meet with far-right Alternative for Germany party leaders, have been seen as a watershed moment. Many believe that this marks a fundamental shift in the US-Europe relationship, one that could ultimately spell the end of the nearly eight-decade-old bond.
“It’s a sharper tear in a fraying that began with Bush 43 and even before,” says Michael Desch, director of the Notre Dame International Security Center. “This is a watershed moment.”
The recent comments from Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, who stated that the US could no longer be counted on as Europe’s security guarantor, have also been met with concern. The US-Russia negotiations over Ukraine, which are taking place without European participation, have further strained relations.
For some, a growing transatlantic divide over values could eventually call into question the survival of the NATO alliance. While Washington may view this as an opportunity to pressure European powers towards collective security, others fear that it will change the nature of transatlantic relations and make the alliance more transactional.
“The threat that I worry about vis-à-vis Europe is not Russia, it’s not China, it’s not any other external actor,” Vance said. “What I worry about is the threat from within.” This sentiment has been met with alarm among European leaders, who fear that the US is attempting to influence domestic electoral politics and side with far-right populist forces.
The US-Europe relationship has long been based on shared values such as democracy, human rights, and mutual defense. However, Vance’s comments suggest that this interpretation of those values may be changing. As Dr. Desch notes, “What we’re seeing is the globalization of American political polarization.”
Source: https://www.csmonitor.com/World/Americas/2025/0218/trump-vance-europe-nato-alliance-values