The US-EU crisis, NATO and Greece

The Euro-Atlantic family is going through one of the worst crises in its history, as its unity is being challenged, mainly by its most powerful member. The parents in the Western family - the US and Europe - are locked in a confrontation that until a short while ago seemed unthinkable, leaving their creation, NATO itself, in the grips of - one could argue - existential angst.

As NATO's foreign ministers prepare to meet in Washington on April 4 to mark its 70th anniversary, the leader of the main pillar of this alliance, whose supporters and critics both agree is effective, is openly expressing disdain for his country's key partner, the European Union.

This writer was at the Washington summit in April 1999, when NATO's leaders celebrated the 50th anniversary of the most powerful alliance in the history of the world. There were differences then too, but you clearly felt...