Brussels remains firmly embedded in the Western alliance, but is increasingly unwilling to accept Washington’s unilateral priorities as Europe’s own.
Managed confrontation by another name
The 2025 US-EU framework agreement illustrates the contradiction. Washington committed to an all-inclusive 15 percent tariff ceiling on most EU goods, while Brussels agreed to eliminate tariffs on US industrial goods and provide wider access for selected US agricultural and seafood products.
In June 2026, the EU completed legislation implementing its commitments. But the agreement contains safeguards, monitoring mechanisms and a sunset clause, and the EU has retained the ability to suspend concessions if US commitments are not respected.
This is no longer reconciliation. It is managed confrontation.
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