ABSTRACT
This chapter analyzes the US policy towards Europe and US grand strategy in a wider sense. NATO has handled the US challenge politically and militarily so far by trying to work around Trump and focusing on military cooperation. Kagan argues that Trump's comments were not aimed at Europe but designed to discredit the alliance in the eyes of his faithful throng back home. The US policy towards Europe, NATO, and Russia since Trump came to power has, however, been double-edged. Trump’s secretaries of state and defence have shown that they are firmer about Russia and more supportive to NATO. NATO’s responses to the US challenge have been both political and military. Politically, NATO’s members have tried to work around Trump. Militarily, the allies have tried to respond to US demands with troop contributions and other types of contributions to the US-led campaign against ISIS, and with continued engagement in Afghanistan.
