ABSTRACT
The chapter deals with the evolution of transatlantic relations from the early 2000s, highlighting the growing divergence between the United States and Europe in political, economic, and military domains. It explores the impact of significant events (such as the Global War on Terror, the 2007–2011 financial crisis, Donald Trump's first presidency, the rise of China, and Russia's aggression against Ukraine) on the cohesion of NATO and the liberal international order, stressing how U.S. strategic retrenchment, burden-sharing disputes, and divergent threat perceptions have strained U.S.–Europe relations and prompted renewed calls for European strategic autonomy. In this context, it devotes critical attention to European institutional responses (such as the development of the EU Strategic Compass, PESCO, and defense industrial initiatives), the impacts of the Biden administration, and its continuity with Donald Trump's first mandate. Conclusions focus on the uncertain future of the transatlantic relationship during Donald Trump's second presidential term and stress the need for a more assertive and coherent European role in global security governance.
