A high-ranking German general has expressed grave concerns over deteriorating security relations between Europe and the USA under Donald Trump. Christian Freuding is the former commander of the 9th Panzerlehr Brigade, and was also the head of the Ukraine department at Germany’s Ministry of Defence.

In October he was promoted to become the Inspector of the Army, in effect the overall commander of the Bundeswehr. The senior officer revealed that his direct communication with the Pentagon had been “completely cut off” by the Trump administration. Previously, he had been in almost daily contact with US army officials, but this privileged access had all but disappeared.

The general viewed the restriction of access to the Pentagon as a “warning sign”, highlighting the growing uncertainty of the Trump’s commitment to European security.

As an example, he noted that Berlin had received no advance warning of Washington’s decision to suspend certain arms shipments to Ukraine.

“You not only have an enemy knocking at the door,” he added in an interview with The Atlantic. “But you also are in the process of losing a true ally and friend.”

Germany’s government has committed to massive spending package on its army and defence sector, as it readjusts to the changing geopolitical situation.

The country’s defence budget will more than double until 2029, from about €62 billion in 2025 to more than €152 billion in four years time.

This means Berlin would reach the NATO spending goal of 3.5% of GDP before deadline date of 2030.

Germany’s intelligence services have claimed that Russia could be in a position to attack a NATO country by 2029.

The country’s Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul also told the Berlin Policy Forum last week that Putin’s “imperial” ambitions extended far beyond Ukraine.

It comes as Tuesday’s peace talks between Trump’s Russian envoy Steve Witkoff and the Russian President failed to achieve any breakthroughs.

Prior to the eagerly anticipated showdown, Putin accused the EU of trying to sabotage the negotiations and warned European leaders than he was “ready to fight” them if they wanted a war.

Following the talks, Estonian Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna said it was “pretty obvious that he [Putin] doesn’t want to have any kind of peace.”