Bangladesh, April 17 -- In a bold and striking statement, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has declared that “the West as we knew it no longer exists,” signaling a fundamental shift in how the European Union views its geopolitical and economic relationships-particularly with the United States. Her comments, published in Die Zeit on April 15, reflect not just disillusionment with US trade policies under President Donald Trump, but also a recalibration of Europes strategic outlook in a multipolar world.

For decades, the transatlantic relationship between the United States and Europe was the bedrock of what was commonly referred to as “the West.” This alliance encompassed not only shared cultural an...