German chancellor-in-waiting Fredrich Merz requested that Europe boost their security defenses on Feb. 25 in order to move towards independence from the US. Germany, who was once one of the United States trading partners and one of their stronger allies in Europe, according to the United States Department of State, has fallen out of a respectful relationship with the US. 

In the past, the US has interacted with the European Union in a friendly manner. US and World History teacher Bert Wilberger believes that historically the relations between the EU and the US have been relatively peaceful and supportive.

“The EU and the US have for a long time been close allies, both trade economics, and security support with one another,” Wilberger said. “That relationship goes back years, especially to the end of World War II.”

However, there was a shift in handling economics with the EU and the Russia-Ukraine war when President Donald Trump took office for his second term. The tariffs President Trump has been enforcing on Canada, Mexico, China and notably Europe have been a big part of the changing relationship between the US and the EU, according to freshman Lily Lawes. 

“After Trump became president the US’s relations with the EU began to deteriorate,” Lawes said. “With economic relations declining due to heavy tariffs placed on things, such as the 25% tariff on metals, along with insanely high proposed tariffs on things, such as the proposed 200% tariff on European wine.”

The biggest change the Trump Administration made is towards the war with Ukraine and how much support they are giving to the war-torn country. Senior Matthew Hetzler notes that there are major changes in how the Trump and Biden Administrations dealt with the war differently. 

“The Biden administration was happy to provide aid to Ukraine so long as they did not initiate a war with Russia who they saw as the aggressors,” Hetlzer said. “Meanwhile, the Trump administration has shown to be more favorable with Russia than they are to supporting Ukraine who they claim are the aggressors. The Trump administration has shown that they are more than willing to cut aid to Ukraine.”

While the relations between the EU and the States have changed, it’s still unclear on exactly what this will entail, especially with the Russia-Ukraine war. With the ceasefire proposition in the air, Wilberger believes the ball is now in Russia’s court on what’s to come. 

“Putin doesn’t feel like there’s anything within the ceasefire agreement that bodes well for him in this country,” Wilberger said. “I don’t know how they are going to react to that. It’s yet to be seen.”