"There is a new sheriff in Washington": Europeans received the first cold shower back in February 2025. This happened during the speech of US Vice President J.D. Vance at the Munich Security Conference, writes Carsten Künthop of ARD.
The value differences between Washington and Brussels
Vance clearly indicated that for him and the "new sheriff" - President Donald Trump - the great threat to Europe comes from within. "What worries me most is not the threat to Europe from Russia, China or other powers. "What scares me most is the internal threat - that Europe is moving away from the values it shares with the United States," Vance said at the time.
The security strategy later adopted by the Washington administration states that some European governments are trampling on the basic principles of democracy to suppress the opposition.
The strange dance with Putin
Just days after Vance's speech, another shock followed when Ukrainian President Zelensky visited Washington. "You have no cards. You are playing with the fate of millions. You are risking World War III," Trump attacked his colleague. Later, he changed his tone and threatened Russian President Putin with sanctions. Threats that were, however, followed by a red carpet in Alaska.
"I have always had a great relationship with President Putin, with Vladimir. "We'll talk again soon and probably meet again very soon," Trump was convinced, but he never managed to negotiate a ceasefire in Ukraine.
Interventions - from Iran to Venezuela
He achieved greater success in the Middle East. American bombers damaged Iran's nuclear infrastructure, and the president boasted of a "major military success". A fragile truce was achieved in Gaza, and all the living hostages held by Hamas went home.
American troops entered Venezuela, detaining Nicolás Maduro. In New York, he was charged with drug trafficking, and Trump demanded to get his hands on the South American country's oil reserves, Küntop also writes.
The "Monroe" doctrine, which is about 200 years old, is back on the agenda. Washington's new strategy envisages that "American dominance in the Western Hemisphere will never again be questioned," Trump stressed.
The right of the strong
In Greenland, on the other hand, he is not only interested in dominance, but also in direct ownership. US national security presupposes that Greenland becomes American, Trump claims. The US president claims that owning the island is of psychological importance to him.
In twelve months, Donald Trump has caused serious damage to the rules-based world order. The right of the strong is leading for him, and his critics speak of a return to colonialism and imperialism, the ARD correspondent summarizes.
Author: Carsten Küntop ARD