Ally to adversary? The United States and Europe in Trump’s second term

As the second Trump administration approaches its 100-day mark, it has taken a confrontational stance towards Europe. From claims on Greenland (a Danish autonomous territory) to Vice President JD Vance’s speech at the Munich Security Conference, from a reset of U.S. relations with Russia to the latest “Liberation Day” tariffs, Trump and his team are forcing Europeans to fundamentally reimagine their continent’s security. European leaders have reacted, with an ambitious defense investment plan, constitutional debt brake amendments, and discussions about nuclear weapons sharing.

Now that the turbulent opening months of Trump 2.0 have driven wedges between the United States and Europe, where do trans-Atlantic relations go from here? Can Europe muster the financial capital and political will to reform its defense sector and reestablish deterrence, absent substantial American protection? In a world of renewed great power competition, can Europe fortify itself to a degree commensurate with its economic and regulatory power or will it be pushed around by an aggressive Russia, an assertive China, and a hostile America?

On April 22, the Center on the United States and Europe at Brookings will convene a panel of experts to discuss the state of U.S.-Europe relations, European efforts to take charge of their own security, implications of a trans-Atlantic trade war, and what to expect in the months and years ahead.  

Viewers can submit questions for the speakers by emailing [email protected] or on X/Twitter @BrookingsFP using #USEurope.