The United States remains an ally for Europe, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen insisted on Sunday, following Washington's decision to cut aid to Ukraine.
But the EU's top official chose not to include the US in a list of "like-minded" countries with which she said Europe could develop deeper partnerships, such as Canada, Norway and the UK.
In the wake of US President Donald Trump's decision to halt military aid and intelligence sharing with Kiev, the head of the European Commission was repeatedly asked by journalists whether she considered America, as well as the Trump administration, to still be among the allies of European countries.
"My position is clear: The United States is an ally in the transatlantic alliance," von der Leyen said at a press conference marking the first 100 days of her second term in office.
The German politician also insisted that Europe's relationship with the US was "completely different" from that with China, leaving aside the need to "take no chances" with the United States.
But von der Leyen, who has yet to meet Trump in person since he was sworn in on January 20, pointed to a number of problems in world affairs that could be linked to Trump's actions, without mentioning the US president or his country.
"We see that sovereignty, but also ironclad commitments, have been called into question," she said, adding that "everything" had become "transactive."
Von der Leyen highlighted the EU's new push to spend around 800 billion euros on its defence industry, saying the share of military equipment sourced from Europe would need to increase "gradually".
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