Global
In a notable statement clearly reflecting the deteriorating transatlantic relations during the era of US President Donald Trump, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz asserted that the era of "unconditional friendship" between the United States and Europe, firmly established since World War II, has ended, at least for the time being. Merz delivered these remarks before members of his party, the Christian Democratic Union (CDU), in Berlin. Merz clarified during his speech that "this era of unconditional transatlantic friendship has likely ended in the near future." He added: "On the other side of the Atlantic, we are witnessing a change in political attitudes and in the assessment of the transatlantic alliance, a change that we perhaps did not think possible." These words underscore growing European concerns about fundamental shifts that could affect the future of historical ties.
