NATO was, in part, established to prevent moves by France and Germany towards independent European defence and foreign policies, such as the West European Union. This has been a geo-political priority for Washington since the end of World War II.

Under Joe Biden, there was panic in the US about Europeans going their own way on Ukraine, a reminder of how concerned Washington was about a revival of the WEU during the Euro missiles crisis in the late 1970s and early 1980s.

The Biden Administration was more worried about keeping Paris and Berlin in line than they were about the fate of Ukrainians. NATO has traditionally been the tool for the exercise of this discipline.

One of the gifts to the US from Putins invasion of Ukraine was to reinforce Atlanticist solidarity. It tightened Washingtons grip on unauthorised peace ventures coming out of continental Europe and neutralised independent, maverick behaviour. And, according to investigative journalist Sy Hersh, the primary reason Washington (probably with the assistance of Ukraine) blew up the Nordstream 2 pipeline was to prevent closer energy and political ties between Russia and Germany.

Trumps decision to negotiate a peace settlement of the Ukraine-Russia conflict directly with Putin excludes both Ukraine itself and Kyivs European supporters. Without Washingtons engagement and leadership, Europe can play only a minor role, if any at all.

This prompted incoming German Chancellor Friedrich Merz to immediately declare that the Trump Administration is largely indifferent to Europes fate and recommend that Europe achieve independence from the United States.

Fundamentally remaking Europes security arrangements after 80 years of reliance on Washington is the nightmare scenario for the military and intelligence establishment which comprises the US Deep State. For decades they have been working to prevent it at every opportunity.

These developments set the scene for a domestic showdown with the Trump Administration in the not-too-distant future.