Claudia Major, expert on security issues at the US think tank German Marshall Fund.Image: www.imago-images.de
According to an expert, several events have given Europeans the impression that the USA, a NATO ally, is turning against European interests.
July 6, 2026, 6:00 a.mJuly 6, 2026, 6:00 a.m
“The moment of truth for many Europeans was the Greenland crisis,” said Claudia Major, an expert on security issues at the US think tank German Marshall Fund, to the dpa news agency.
The Iran war then confirmed and ultimately strengthened the impression that the USA was acting unilaterally and against European interests.
What changed the Greenland crisis
At the beginning of the year, US President Donald Trump openly flirted with taking over the Arctic island, which belongs to NATO partner Denmark – if necessary by force. After a storm of indignation among the European NATO partners, he refrained from doing so. However, he insisted on negotiations on the issue.
“An ally threatens the territorial integrity and sovereignty of another ally” – this is how the Greenland question presents itself to many Europeans, explained security expert Major. “From the point of view of many Europeans, the USA has de facto threatened Greenland to do what Russia is doing to Ukraine – namely to question sovereignty and territorial integrity with military means if necessary.” This changed something for a lot of Europeans: “The impression arose: This is supposed to be our life insurance and it is turning against us.”
According to the expert, until Trump blatantly expressed his ownership of Greenland, many Europeans believed that they could use flattery to keep Trump in NATO. “Greenland gave many Europeans the impression that keeping the USA in NATO at all costs does not mean that NATO will survive.” Major explained that keeping the USA in NATO at all costs could also dismantle NATO from within.
What the Iran War changed
In her opinion, the Iran war seemed to show “that the Greenland crisis was not an exception, but could be the new normal.” It was decided without consultation with allies – but at the same time Washington demanded support.
Trump and other representatives of his administration have recently repeatedly expressed dissatisfaction with what they see as a lack of support from allies for the US war against Iran.
According to expert Major, one lesson from the Iran war is that the USA left allies hanging if necessary, in this case Israel. “The question for the European allies is how long they can rely on US support – of course NATO is a different alliance, but the question of long-term reliability arises.”
Israel and the USA started the war against Iran together at the end of February – but as the war progressed, the allies’ different interests became increasingly apparent. While Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was in favor of continuing the military offensive, Trump also pushed for an end to the war, which was unpopular in the USA, in the face of domestic political pressure.
What has changed the accumulation of supposed slip-ups
According to security expert Major, Europeans were willing to treat many events as unfortunate blips: such as berating Spain for low defense spending or a lack of criticism of Russia. “But then you come to the conclusion that seven unfortunate slip-ups in a row might have a system.” (sda/dpa)