This article was automatically translated from the original Turkish version.
Transatlantic Alliance is a cooperation framework that denotes the network of security, political, economic and strategic relations between European countries and United States of America. This alliance encompasses comprehensive coordination between the two continents in military, economic and diplomatic domains.
Transatlantic relations have been sustained since the post–Cold War era as a long-term model of cooperation between Western Europe and the United States. This cooperation was shaped on the basis of shared security concerns and mutual economic interests between European countries and the United States. However, during the 2020s, this relationship entered a process of redefinition due to the emergence of political and strategic differences.
The core institutional structure of the Transatlantic Alliance is shaped through NATO. In this context, the alliance provides a framework for member states to coordinate their common defense and security policies. The role of NATO is defined as ensuring the sustainability of military cooperation between Europe and North America.
In the second quarter of the 21st century, new challenges have emerged in transatlantic relations. Some European leaders have assessed that the United States has deviated from its previous stance within the alliance. This has led to questioning of trust in the United States among European countries. Some leaders have discussed the need for European nations to focus on securing their own defense more independently.
Discussions in Europe regarding the future of the transatlantic alliance have brought to the fore ideas of military and strategic autonomy. These ideas emphasize the necessity for The countries of Europe to enhance its own defense capabilities and reduce dependence on the United States. In this context, it has been argued that the defense burden of the alliance must be shared more equitably.
Economic tensions that emerged at the beginning of 2026 have brought the economic dimension of transatlantic relations to the forefront. The United States imposed tariff threats against certain European countries. These threats triggered a unified European response, generating new concerns about the stability of transatlantic economic relations. European leaders have stated that such economic pressures could have adverse effects on the relationship.
The United States’ tariff threats have led to negative pricing in European financial markets. Some European stock indices have lost value due to intercountry economic and political tensions.
Transatlantic relations underwent a significant test with the emergence of the Greenland crisis in early 2026. The United States’ prioritization of strategic interests in Greenland through certain policies sparked debates among European institutions and countries regarding the future of the alliance. This situation has raised questions about the reliability and resilience of the transatlantic cooperation framework.
Various perspectives exist regarding the future of the Transatlantic Alliance. One view argues that the alliance remains sustainable and mutually beneficial for both sides, while other perspectives contend that the alliance cannot continue in its current form. Among these views, it is argued that Europe needs to develop more independent security and defense policies and that the United States’ role in the alliance requires redefinition.
The North American pillar constitutes the military and strategic backbone of the transatlantic alliance.
These countries formed the historical core of the transatlantic alliance and played a decisive role in shaping its security architecture.
Southern European countries enhance the geostrategic depth of the alliance, particularly in the context of the Mediterranean, the Middle East and the Black Sea.
These countries have assumed a central position in the transatlantic alliance’s security agenda, particularly following Russia-Ukraine war.
The transatlantic alliance is institutionally structured through
. Political and strategic coordination is conducted through multilateral dialogue mechanisms between European Union institutions and the United States administration.
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Historical Framework
Institutional Structure and Context
NATO and Strategic Linkages
Current Changes and Challenges
US–Europe Divergence
Security and Strategic Autonomy Debates
Trade and Economic Dimension
Tariffs and Economic Tensions
Market Reactions
Geopolitical Tensions
Greenland Crisis
Contested Perspectives
Countries Covered by the Transatlantic Alliance
North America
Western and Northern Europe
Southern Europe
Central and Eastern Europe
Institutional Framework