Transatlantic ties in worse shape as two sides go through discords, mistrust

The United States on Wednesday unveiled its plan to withdraw almost 12,000 troops out of Germany. Berlin was angry that Washington made the decision without consulting its ally and used it as a punishment for Germany's incompliance on the NATO defense budget goal.

Observers, however, cannot help but notice a widening rift between the two allies across the Atlantic Ocean, who have been experiencing unprecedented discords for the past few years, making some believe that a kind of structural change is taking place in their partnership.