Trump administration officials have been publicly speaking out against Europe, but their disdain appears to be even louder in private conversations. After parts of a discussion between top-ranking Trump administration officials about a strike on Yemen were published, Europeans expressed exasperation and anger. The discussion, which took place on a messaging app called Signal, was shared in The Atlantic, and included comments that referred to Europeans as “geopolitical parasites”. The exchange appears to show a deep-seated feeling in the administration that the Europeans are relying too heavily on the United States.

Meanwhile, security experts are concerned that Russia and China could be listening in on such discussions. A member of the European Parliament has suggested that such leaks make espionage unnecessary. The exchange has further strained relations between the United States and its European allies, with some analysts suggesting that the trans-Atlantic relationship “as was” is over and may be the target of an active attempt to undermine it. The Trump administration has been pushing Europe to increase its defense spending and has threatened to withdraw support from nations that do not pay enough.

European officials are now exploring options for strengthening their defense expenditures but will need to build many capabilities almost from scratch. They are also contemplating a future where their prized relationship with the United States may never be the same.

Source: https://www.nytimes.com/2025/03/25/world/europe/signal-jeffrey-goldberg-message-hegseth.html