The Business Times
business-time-50
THE BOTTOM LINE

Are Europe and America headed for divorce?

For now, the two sides remain locked in an unhappy marriage

Summarise
google-preferred-sourceAdd BT as a preferred source
阅读简体中文版 (beta)
    • European confidence in American leadership is at an all-time low; more people in Spain, Italy, France and Germany now regard the US as a threat than a “close ally”, a poll shows.
    • European confidence in American leadership is at an all-time low; more people in Spain, Italy, France and Germany now regard the US as a threat than a “close ally”, a poll shows. PHOTO: REUTERS

    Gideon Rachman

    Published Tue, Apr 28, 2026 · 05:12 PM

    THE US Air Force moved into Lakenheath in Britain in 1948. Ramstein air base was established in Germany in the early 1950s. Today, there are over 40 US military bases in Europe, hosting around 85,000 troops.

    But nothing lasts forever. And, for the first time in my life, it is conceivable that the US military presence in Europe could come to an end.

    The immediate irritant is the war in Iran. European reluctance – and occasional refusal – to let the US use its bases for missions in Iran has infuriated President Donald Trump, who has lambasted Europeans as “cowards” and called Nato a “paper tiger”.

    GeopoliticsUS-Europe relationsTrump administrationNatoDefence

    TRENDING NOW

    Acting Minister-in-charge of Muslim Affairs Faishal Ibrahim resigned from political office on Jul 20.

    Faishal Ibrahim resigns over online messages with a female member of the public

    Alibaba’s Qwen alone has overtaken Meta’s Llama to become the most downloaded open-source model family in history.

    When the disruptor gets disrupted: How Chinese open-source AI is eating its own industry

    Employees may grumble about long hours, difficult clients or demanding deadlines, but often the biggest push factor is how they are treated.

    What makes a good job? Feeling that you matter

    CapitaLand Integrated Commercial Trust is spending S$160 million to revamp Plaza Singapura and The Atrium@Orchard.

    Retail resets: Mall owners reposition shopping centres as Singapore’s consumer landscape evolves

    Latest T-bills Treasury Bills Results & Interest NewsLatest SSB Singapore Savings Bonds NewsLatest COE Certificate of Entitlement News
    Latest Johor-Singapore SEZ NewsLatest BTO Build To Order & Sales of Balance NewsLatest STI Straits Times Index NewsLatest SGX Dividends, Share Price NewsLatest Bonds Market NewsLatest Singapore Stocks To Buy NewsLatest Singapore Economy News
    View More