Trump's feuds, tensions with allies likely to outlast Iran war

With his decision to pull some US troops from Germany, his threats to draw down forces elsewhere in Europe and his downplaying of recent attacks on an important Gulf partner, President Donald Trump’s latest moves foreshadow what could be the war’s enduring legacy: the fraying of ties with key allies. Even as the US and Iran inch toward a potential off-ramp, Trump’s words and deeds have revived fears among Washington’s long-standing friends — from Europe to the Middle East to the Indo-Pacific — that the US might be unreliable in a future crisis. In response, some traditional US partners are starting to hedge their bets in ways that may bring long-lasting changes in relations with Washington, while adversaries such as China and Russia are looking to exploit strategic openings. It is not yet clear whether Trump’s war with Iran will mark a permanent turning point in US relations with the world. But most analysts believe his erratic conduct since returning to office, essentially upending the rules-based global order, will further erode US alliances, especially with Nato continuing to feel his ire for largely resisting his wartime demands. “Trump’s recklessness with respect to Iran is resulting in some dramatic shifts,” said Brett Bruen, a former adviser in the Obama administration who now heads the Situation Room strategic consultancy. “US credibility is at stake.” Tensions are especially high between Trump and the Europeans since he joined Israel in striking Iran on February 28, claiming without evidence that Tehran was close to developing a nuclear weapon. Iran’s retaliatory closure of the Strait of Hormuz unleashed an unprecedented global energy shock that has made European countries some of the biggest economic losers from a war they never asked for. Even before that, Trump had rattled allies by imposing sweeping tariffs, pushing to take over Greenland from Denmark and cutting military aid to Ukraine. The rift widened when Trump announced this week he was withdrawing