The cracks in the transatlantic relationship, triggered by US President Donald Trump’s sharp criticism of European allies, initially suggested that Europe’s leading military powers—France and Germany—would close ranks. It was, in fact, anticipated that they would accelerate defense cooperation while pushing for European strategic autonomy. However, despite some alignment, such as joint efforts on nuclear […] The cracks in the transatlantic relationship, triggered by US President Donald Trump’s sharp criticism of European allies, initially suggested that Europe’s leading military powers—France and Germany—would close ranks. It was, in fact, anticipated th... [9929 chars]