The Munich reckoning: How transatlantic ties are fraying from both sides

Europe should recognise that the current strains in U.S.-EU relations are not just the result of an unpredictable American administration but also of Europe’s own unresolved contradictions US Vice President JD Vance waves as he boards Air Force Two for travel back to Washington from Munich International Airport in Munich, Germany on February 14, 2025. It was a call to arms for the populist right to be able to seize power in Europe, and a promise that the ‘new sheriff in town’ would help them to do so.” The German Chancellor saw things which Vance said on right wing parties as foreign interference in elections, declaring, “That is not done, certainly not among friends and allies.” Irrespective of what the Europe leaders say, this is not the worst which the transatlantic partnership has seen, and it will deteriorate in the upcoming years. Trump’s engagement with Putin—particularly on security matters like Ukraine—has raised fears that the U.S. might make concessions without adequately considering European interests. European policymakers worry that a shift in U.S. posture could embolden Russia’s strategic ambitions, particularly in Eastern Europe, where nations like Poland and the Baltic states remain wary of Moscow’s intentions. Trump’s disdain for such regulatory approaches, combined with his past trade disputes with Europe, could further widen the rift between the U.S. and its European allies.