Germany-US relations have been badly damaged but not beyond repair

"Meeting in Munich over the weekend, officials on both sides said they wanted to continue to work together. In the world of geopolitics all eyes were on Southern Germany over the weekend where the Munich Security Conference (MSC) served as the latest make or break moment for Germany-US relations. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz delivered the event's opening speech in which he acknowledged that a rift has opened up with the US, and urged trans-Atlantic partners to repair and revive trust."

"MSC was attended by a number of US leaders, including Secretary of State Marco Rubio who represented President Donald Trump's administration, as well as Democratic lawmakers who voiced opposition to Trump's politics. Overall it appeared that both European and US leaders wanted to take steps toward mending trans-Atlantic relations. But the conference also made clear that old alliances, which had been secure for decades, have now been injured and won't be easily healed."

"Last year US Vice President JD Vance delivered a speech at the MSC that left European leaders floored and was largely seen as marking a new era in European-US relations. Vance's speech made clear that US leadership under President Donald Trump saw itself as opposed to many of Europe's democratic policies, and more closely aligned with far-right parties and Russia. Since then the Trump Administration had underlined these positions in the US's latest National Security Strategy."

Trans-Atlantic relations have been strained under President Trump's leadership, prompting German leaders to question alliance stability. The Munich Security Conference served as a focal point where German Chancellor Friedrich Merz acknowledged a rift with the United States and urged partners to rebuild trust. US representatives and Democratic lawmakers attended and signaled willingness to take steps toward mending ties, yet longstanding alliances were described as injured and difficult to heal. Earlier US rhetoric and policy shifts, including JD Vance's MSC speech and the Trump Administration's National Security Strategy, reinforced perceptions of alignment with far-right parties and Russia. Actions such as threats over Greenland, tariff postures, and pauses in military aid to Ukraine have contributed to doubts about US reliability.

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