At last, Europe finally understands: the US is no longer its ally

Since Donald Trump reentered the White House nearly a year ago, European governments have tried to convince themselves that their alliance with the US can survive.

- Steve Bloomfield

They have swallowed tariffs and humiliations, offered trinkets and baubles (gold bars from the Swiss, a second state visit from the British), laid on the flattery and refused to whisper a single note of criticism.

But while there was a private acceptance that the US might no longer be an ally, it was not until the events of the past few weeks that key figures in European governments finally came to the conclusion that a Trump-led United States is actually now an adversary.

The publication in December of the US national security strategy, which claimed Europe faces “civilisational erasure” and pledged support for far-right “patriotic” parties, laid it out in black and white. Trump's insistence the US will own Greenland, “whether they like it or not”, made it impossible to ignore.

Over the past few days, European leaders have carefully spoken about the importance of the Nato alliance and defended the sovereignty of Greenland and Denmark. Until now, though, they have all been wary of naming the aggressor.

That has to change. Trump's announcement yesterday that eight European nations, including the UK, would be hit with tariffs for having the temerity to stand up for the western alliance, has to be the moment when Europe's leaders publicly and unequivocally break with the US president.