Germany's vice chancellor warned Wednesday that Europe's ties with the United States were 'disintegrating' as they endure a 'historic period of upheaval' under President Donald Trump's administration. "The transatlantic relationship as we have known it is currently disintegrating." The vice chancellor is from the centre-left SPD party that governs in coalition with the conservative bloc led by Chancellor Friedrich Merz, and his language is stronger than any used by Merz in recent times. Klingbeil listed a string of reasons for his belief that ties between the United States and Europe, traditionally close allies, were radically changing. AdvertisementThe United States and Germany, Europe's top economy, had long been united by a shared interest in free trade and open markets, said Klingbeil.

Source: The Local January 14, 2026 16:13 UTC