Key Takeaways
- French President Emmanuel Macron and German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier have expressed concerns over American foreign policy under President Donald Trump, citing threats to Canada’s sovereignty and the potential invasion of Greenland.
- Macron has accused the US of sacrificing its allies for "the law of the strongest" and turning away from international rules.
- Steinmeier has warned that global democracy is being attacked as never before, citing Russia’s annexation of Crimea and the US’s behavior as a breakdown of values.
- European leaders are growing increasingly concerned about Trump’s actions, with 76% of Germans surveyed feeling that the US is not a reliable partner.
- The US’s national security strategy envisions America as a hemispheric superpower, leading to concerns about its plans for the Western Hemisphere.
Introduction to the Issue
The relationship between the United States and its European allies has become increasingly strained in recent months, with French President Emmanuel Macron and German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier expressing concerns over American foreign policy under President Donald Trump. In a speech to French ambassadors, Macron cited Trump’s threat to make Canada the "51st state" as an example of American foreign policy that is sacrificing allies for "the law of the strongest." This statement was matched by similar comments from Steinmeier, who warned that global democracy is being attacked as never before.
European Leaders’ Concerns
Macron’s comments appear to be the first time he has directly addressed Trump’s threats against Canada’s sovereignty, which the US president has not raised for several weeks after repeatedly making the assertions last year. However, Canada’s former United Nations ambassador, Bob Rae, and other experts have warned that Trump’s recent behavior suggests Canada is "on the menu" for his plans in the hemisphere when taken alongside the "51st state" rhetoric. Macron’s speech referenced recent US actions, including the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro last weekend, and Trump’s overall national security strategy that envisions America as a hemispheric superpower.
US Plans for the Western Hemisphere
The remarks from Macron and Steinmeier come amid growing concern about Trump’s plans for Greenland. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio is set to meet with Danish officials next week, and Macron joined Prime Minister Mark Carney and other European leaders in defending Greenland’s sovereignty in the wake of Trump’s comments about how the US "need(s)" the self-governing Danish territory, which is part of the NATO military alliance. The Prime Minister’s Office said Carney spoke to German Chancellor Friedrich Merz about "their shared support for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Denmark, including Greenland, which must be respected in accordance with international law."
German President’s Warning
Steinmeier’s comments were made in a speech at a symposium in Germany, where he warned that the world must not become a "den of robbers," where the most unscrupulous take whatever they want, and regions or entire countries are treated as the property of a few great powers. He described Russia’s annexation of Crimea and the full-scale invasion of Ukraine as a watershed, and said that the behavior of the United States represented a second historic rupture. Although the German president’s role is largely ceremonial, his words carry some weight, and he has more freedom to express views than politicians.
Public Opinion and Survey Results
A poll for public broadcaster ARD indicated that 76% of Germans surveyed now felt that the United States was not a partner that Germany could rely on, an increase of three percentage points since June 2025. Only 15% felt that Germany could now trust the United States, the lowest level recorded in the regular survey of attitudes. By contrast, roughly three-quarters felt they could rely on France and Britain. The survey found that 69% of Germans were concerned about security in Europe, and about the same number thought that NATO partners could not rely on the protection of the United States, the strongest member of the alliance.
Conclusion and Future Implications
The comments from Macron and Steinmeier represent an escalation from European leaders’ immediate reaction to Maduro’s capture, which called for all parties to respect international law without criticizing the US directly. Experts have warned that world leaders were likely hoping to not anger a "volatile White House" amid ongoing trade and security negotiations. However, the growing concern among European leaders and the public about Trump’s actions and comments suggests that the relationship between the US and its European allies will continue to be strained in the coming months. As the US continues to pursue its national security strategy, it remains to be seen how European leaders will respond and what implications this will have for global democracy and international relations.