European leaders felt certain about one thing after a whirlwind tour by Trump officials — they were entering a new world where it was harder to depend on the United States.The New York Times reports that European leaders were certain about one thing after a whirlwind tour by Trump officials – they were entering a new world where it was harder to depend on the United States. Many critical issues were left uncertain, including the fate of Ukraine, at the end of Europe’s first encounter with an angry and impatient Trump administration. However, one thing was clear: an epochal breach appears to be opening in the Western alliance.
After three years of war that forged a new unity within NATO, the Trump administration has made it clear that it plans to focus its attention elsewhere – in Asia, Latin America, the Arctic, and anywhere President Trump believes the United States can obtain critical mineral rights. European officials who met with Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said they now expect that tens of thousands of American troops will be pulled out of Europe – the only question is how many and how fast.
There is also fear that in one-on-one negotiations with Russian President Vladimir Putin, Mr. Trump is on his way to agreeing to terms that could ultimately put Moscow in a position to own a fifth of Ukraine and prepare to take the rest in a few years’ time. European officials believe that Mr. Putin’s ultimate goal is to break up the NATO alliance.
These fears were expressed at the Munich Security Conference on Saturday morning, where Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky declared that “Ukraine will never accept deals made behind our backs.” He then called for the creation of an “army of Europe,” one that includes his now battle-hardened Ukrainian forces. This would essentially be a military alternative to NATO, a force that would make its own decisions without the influence or military control of the United States.
Mr. Zelensky also predicted that Mr. Putin would try to manipulate Mr. Trump, speculating that the Russian leader would invite the new American president to the celebration of the 80th anniversary of the defeat of Nazi Germany. “Putin will try to get the U.S. president standing on Red Square on May 9 this year,” he told a crowded hall of European diplomats, defense and intelligence officials, “not as a respected leader but as a prop in his own performance.”
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