Europe fears transatlantic rift

BRUSSELS: European leaders said yesterday that they may have to stand alone without the US once Donald Trump enters office, raising the prospect of an unprecedented breach in transatlantic relations after Trump’s comments that the EU is bound for a breakup and Nato is obsolete.

Trump said in a weekend interview with the Times of London and Germany’s Bild that the 28-nation EU was a vehicle for German interests and said that he was indifferent to the bloc’s fate. He also said he was committed to European defence even as he expressed scepticism about Nato’s current configuration.

Trump’s attitudes have alarmed Europe, which is facing a wave of elections this year in which anti-immigrant, Eurosceptic leaders could gain in power.