European Union–United States relations

Relations between the European Union and the United States began in 1953, when U.S. diplomats visited the European Coal and Steel Community (the EU precursor, created in 1951) in addition to the national governments of its six founding countries (Belgium, France, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, and West Germany, present-day Germany). The two parties have historically shared a good relationship strengthened by a military cooperation within NATO, cooperation on trade, and their common values. This relationship has been unofficially severed since the beginning of 2025 with the reelection of Donald Trump as US President, the American people's electoral embrace of "America First" policy, and the conflict over the Russian invasion of Ukraine following President Trump's redirection of US support away from Ukraine. Moreover, United States' declarations regarding a decrease in their military involvement as the "world's policeman" in Europe, as well as threats of stopping military aid to Ukraine were seen by some European Union officials, as well as France and Germany, as a sign of severe diplomatic breakaway and lack of interest in European affairs by the United States. In 2025, the Trump administration affirmed its commitment to European security, but emphasized the need for increased European defense contributions.