Germany’s Vice Chancellor, Lars Klingbeil, delivered a stark warning on Wednesday, stating that the relationship between Europe and the United States is “disintegrating” amid what he termed a “historic period of upheaval” under President Donald Trump’s administration.
Speaking in Berlin, Klingbeil, who also serves as Germany’s finance minister, remarked, “The transatlantic alliance is undergoing a much more profound upheaval than we may have been willing to admit until now.” His comments, which represent a stronger stance than that recently taken by Chancellor Friedrich Merz, followed a recent diplomatic visit to Washington alongside Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul.
Klingbeil outlined several reasons for his assessment, pointing to recent US foreign policy actions. He cited the US military operation in Caracas that resulted in the capture of former Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro. While describing Maduro as a “brutal dictator,” Klingbeil asserted that Washington’s military action had violated “the principles of international law.”
“And we should not view Venezuela as an isolated case,” he added, referencing threats made by the Trump administration against other Latin American countries.
The Vice Chancellor also mentioned President Trump’s threats to seize Greenland and language from the US national security strategy suggesting Europe faced “civilisational erasure” as further evidence of the deteriorating relationship.
Historically, the US and Germany were united by a shared commitment to free trade and open markets. “That is no longer the case today,” Klingbeil stated. He stressed, however, that Europe must not abandon a rules-based economic system. “We must defend this order, even without our American partners if necessary.”
