A growing diplomatic rift between Europe and the United States has surfaced as German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock warned that failure to support “liberal democracies” in Europe would come at a cost for Washington. The remarks, made on February 21 during a campaign rally in Potsdam, underscore the mounting tensions between the two transatlantic allies, driven largely by recent actions and statements from US President Donald Trump.

Baerbock, a prominent figure from Germany’s Green Party, emphasized that Europe must apply pressure on the United States to ensure its continued alignment with European interests. “We’re increasing pressure on the Americans [so they know] they have a lot to lose if they don’t stand on the side of Europe’s liberal democracies,” Baerbock stated, signaling a potential shift toward a more assertive European approach in its dealings with Washington.

Her comments follow a series of high-level negotiations between the US and Russia in Saudi Arabia, from which both the European Union and Ukraine were notably excluded. This diplomatic snub has fueled concerns across Europe, with many leaders viewing it as a sign of Washington’s diminishing commitment to transatlantic unity. Baerbock made it clear that decisions regarding European security and Ukraine’s future should not be made without the input of those directly affected. “No one can decide about war and peace for the Ukrainians or us Europeans, and this is the clear German stance,” she asserted.

The exclusion........

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