European leaders are defying Trump. At what cost?

欧洲领导人正违抗特朗普。代价几何?

The Global Story

2026-05-05

26 分钟
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When Donald Trump began his second term in the White House, many European leaders chose to pursue flattery instead of a fight. Most sought to avoid public confrontation even as Trump instituted tariffs, spoke of annexing Greenland, and went to war with Iran. But lately more European leaders across the political spectrum - from longtime allies to ideological opponents - are willing to openly contradict and criticise the American president. The White House appears to be retaliating, especially against Germany, from which the Pentagon has announced it will withdraw 5,000 troops. Has Europe suddenly become more defiant? And what happens next? Asma speaks to the BBC’s Europe editor, Katya Adler. Producers: Valerio Esposito, Chris Benderev and Hannah Moore Executive Producer: James Shield Mix: Travis Evans Senior News Editor: China Collins Photo: US President Donald Trump and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz hold a bilateral meeting at the White House, 03 March 2026. Credit: Samuel Corum/Pool/EPA/Shutterstock
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  • When Donald Trump began his second term in the White House, many European leaders chose flattery over a fight.

  • The NATO secretary general praising the U.S. President for brokering this ceasefire deal,

  • referring to him as daddy who sometimes has to separate two children.

  • Starmer mentioned more than once that President Trump was being issued this special invitation to come back to the UK,

  • and he noted how unusual and unprecedented that is.

  • Even through tariffs and threats of a Greenland takeover,

  • most of Europe's leaders tried to avoid a public confrontation.