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Europe has long been the closest ally of the United States (US). However, it turns out that the era of President Donald Trump's administration does not feel the same. Trump has repeatedly made threats, ranging from withdrawing from NATO to the latest tariffs for the automotive industry.
Apart from Trump, his aides often make harsh remarks about Europe, injuring the relationship between the two allies. The aggressive statements made by Vice President JD Vance on issues such as defense expenditure and sensors have strained the alliance between Europe and the US.
The latest incident is a leaked conversation among Trump's assistants on Signal, with the presence of The Atlantic's chief editor who was accidentally invited to the group.
According to The Atlantic, as quoted by Politico, VP Vance said that he hated 'bankrolling Europe again' by launching a military action against Houthi to protect shipping in the Red Sea, mainly to benefit European trade. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth responded to Vance: 'I fully share your hate of Europe freeloading. Something pitiful.'
How Does Europe Respond?
The leaked conversation immediately received responses from British and European officials and diplomats. They reacted with a sense of hurt. A British diplomat said they were taken aback when the spectacular leak emerged on Monday night, describing it as 'something wild'.
Vance is seen as the driving force behind the US hostility towards Europe. This, said the source, forces others, including Trump, to take a tougher stance as they do not want to appear weaker than Vance.
Former British Defense Minister Grant Shapps said that some in the Trump administration clearly need to be re-educated about their allies. It is wrong for them to say that European military did nothing to address the Iran-backed Houthi targeting commercial shipping, he said.
The leaked messages even included discussions on how to make Europe 'pay' the US for the cost of the military action. In fact, the planned airstrikes detailed in the private Signal group were supported by British refueling aircraft.
Shapps said he agrees that Europe should do more in terms of security. However, Prime Minister Keir Starmer should remind the US that Britain also leads. 'I authorized 4 RAF attacks on Houthi & the Royal Navy protects the Red Sea shipping. Our forces risk their lives to protect trade. Some people in Washington DC need to be reminded,' he said on X.
Ed Davey, the leader of the Liberal Democrats, an opposing party in the UK, deemed JD Vance and his colleagues unfit for the world's strongest military power. 'This should make our security agencies anxious about the intelligence information we share with them,' he said.
Elsewhere in Europe, the tone among diplomats mostly showed sadness and resignation. They hope the aggressive attitudes of Vance and his friends towards Europe only apply in public. Meanwhile, they privately hope for more sympathy.
But this hope vanished in an instant. 'It is truly heartbreaking to see how they talk about Europe when they think no one is listening,' said a European Union diplomat, who, like others, did not want to be named, to provide an honest view. 'But at the same time, this is not surprising... It's just that now we see their reasons with all the undiplomatic glory.'
Another EU diplomat agrees that history shows that one day America will return to its role as a solid ally for Europe. 'For now, and despite sometimes good diplomatic words, trust has been shattered,' said the diplomat. 'There is no alliance without trust. So, I think Europe should do more because they have no other choice.'
Is Europe Dependent on the US?
Historically, as reported by NPR, Europe has been heavily dependent on the United States to support its military capabilities, including intelligence gathering, nuclear umbrella, and air defense weapon systems. The presence of tens of thousands of US troops for several decades in Europe, since the end of World War II, also played a significant role as a deterrent against potential enemies that might attempt to attack Europe, including Russia.
However, criticisms in the Signal chat group provide a window into policy discussions that are usually private and the political stance within the Trump administration, which in the past few months has openly criticized European governments not only for lower military spending than in the US but also policy decisions related to a culture that fundamentally differs from the current vision of the White House.
Trump has taken a tough stance on Europe even before returning to the White House. The US President has accused the European Union of taking advantage of the US and threatened to impose a 200 percent tariff on alcohol produced in the continent in the ongoing trade war.
He has also infuriated European allies by claiming that the US should take over Greenland, a territory belonging to the European Union member, Denmark, and seemingly adopted Kremlin rhetoric regarding the Russian war in Ukraine in a widely publicized dispute with his Ukrainian counterpart, Volodymyr Zelensky, in the Oval Office.
However, this should not come as a surprise, said other commentators, including Pierre Haski, a French newspaper editor who has long worked there and is the president of the advocacy group Reporters Without Borders.
For Europeans, there is a feeling of 'relationship in tatters' when they realize 'the extent of America's enmity', said Pierre Haski, a French newspaper editor who has long worked there and is the president of the advocacy group Reporters Without Borders to French public radio. 'But as with love, there is life after a breakup - and it is important to make the most of your new life,' he added.
But as European governments rush to increase their defense spending in preparation for a future where US security support may continue to waver, the dismissive tone of the Signal messages has helped underscore the speed at which the historic trans-Atlantic alliance underpinning NATO is faltering.
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