In a bold and striking statement, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has declared that “the West as we knew it no longer exists,” signaling a fundamental shift in how the European Union views its geopolitical and economic relationships-particularly with the United States. Her comments, published in Die Zeit on April 15, reflect not just disillusionment with US trade policies under President Donald Trump, but also a recalibration of Europe’s strategic outlook in a multipolar world.

For decades, the transatlantic relationship between the United States and Europe was the bedrock of what was commonly referred to as “the West.” This alliance encompassed not only shared cultural and political values but also deep economic integration and cooperation through institutions such as NATO and the World Trade Organization. However, recent years have exposed growing fissures.

Under Trump’s administration, the US took an increasingly protectionist stance, culminating in sweeping tariffs-20% on all EU goods and 25% specifically on car imports. The EU retaliated in kind, introducing its own 25% tariffs on American products. Although Trump recently paused most global tariffs for 90 days, the damage to the trust and stability of transatlantic trade relations appears to be done.

Von der Leyen’s statement is a sobering acknowledgment that these tensions are not mere bumps in the road but symptomatic of a broader unraveling of old certainties.

“The world has become a globe also geopolitically,” von der Leyen said. In other words, global alliances are now........

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