Merkel signals new era for Europe as Trump smashes consensus

Munich

GERMAN Chancellor Angela Merkel gave her strongest indication yet that Europe and the United States under President Donald Trump are drifting apart, saying reliable relationships forged since the end of World War II "are to some extent over".

Speaking at a campaign rally in a beer tent in Munich on Sunday, Mrs Merkel offered a glimpse of her world view after Mr Trump's nine-day trip, during which he hectored Nato allies for not spending enough on defence, called Germany's trade surplus "very bad", and brought the US to the brink of exiting the global Paris climate accord.

Mrs Merkel, who met Mr Trump during the Nato meeting in Bruss…