And she lamented that the US-led global order "has collapsed into many tiny parts". The crowd gave the German chancellor an extended standing ovation - a rare display at the normally button-down Munich Security Conference. The customarily reserved Merkel beamed as she took her seat. Ivanka Trump, the president's daughter and a top adviser, looked on from the crowd, stone-faced. The speech, and the response, underscored just how far apart the United States has drifted from its traditional allies during Trump's term - and how little Europeans care about concealing their contempt. German Chancellor Angela Merkel was unusually frank in her assessment of the effects of US foreign policy at the Munich conference on Saturday. Credit:AP At last year's conference, US allies in Europe were reluctant to voice out loud the depths of their concerns with the state of the transatlantic relationship, said Ian Bremmer, president of the Eurasia Group.

"Now there's a lot more openly displayed anger about the fact that the relationship is broken," Bremmer said. "The Trump administration doesn't understand that it's not just about how much people pay. It's about a relationship, trust, how you communicate, shared values. That all matters." Merkel was followed to the podium on Saturday by Vice-President Mike Pence, who was met with only tepid applause - and some incredulous looks - when he proclaimed Trump "the leader of the free world". "We came here to reaffirm our commitment that 'America First' does not mean America alone and tell leaders, allies and countries around the world that America is stronger than ever before and America's leading on the world stage once again," Pence said. Ivanka Trump, assistant to US President Donald Trump, appeared unimpressed by what German Chancellor Angela Merkel had to say about US foreign policy. Credit:Bloomberg While the vice-president extended some reassurances to allies - asserting America's commitment to NATO, and celebrating shared victories against terrorist groups - he also offered barbs.

Pence credited Trump with spurring NATO allies to spend more on defence, but insisted they are still not spending enough. He also reiterated a demand he first made on Thursday in Warsaw for European allies to follow the United States out of the Iran nuclear deal. "The time has come for our European partners to withdraw," Pence said. Pence later said he had had "frank discussions" with European allies about the issue. Merkel said she found the dispute between Europe and the US on Iran "depressing". Iranian President Hassan Rouhani. The US continues to urge its European allies to abandon the Iran nuclear deal. Credit:AP The vice-president's speech was met with disdain by some European officials who say they have no intention of abandoning the Iran nuclear deal and felt his aggressive tone would only stir up more opposition to the deal.

Gathered shortly after, a group of senior European military officers observed with surprise that Pence made relatively little mention of Russia, the major security concern for many of the conference's attendees. Other officials joked that Europe's eagerness to have more US troops on their soil was increasing - to defend against the whims of the White House. Loading The transatlantic tension came at a high-profile conference with a decades-long pedigree. The gathering in Munich has traditionally been a chance for the US and its allies to work out their differences with the rest of the world. But since Trump's election, the focus has shifted to the schisms within the West.

"We need to get used to this. It's not going to be like the good old times, when everyone comes, gives speeches, everyone applauds, and everyone goes home," said Latvian Foreign Minister Edgars Rinkevics, whose nation is on the front lines of the conflict with Russia and whose security depends on Europe and the United States getting along well enough to defend the Baltics. "It's getting crazier and crazier. I don't know what next year's Munich will bring." Beyond the gap between America and Europe, the divides within the US were also on vivid display Saturday. Hours after Pence left the stage, his predecessor, Joe Biden, took to the podium to deliver a speech full of praise for multilateralism, allies and cooperative decision-making - the very rhetoric that Europe had been accustomed to hearing from presidents of both parties before Trump's election. "The America I see does not wish to turn our back on the world or our closest allies," Biden said, citing a commitment to both NATO and the European Union that has often been in doubt under Trump. "The America I see cherishes a free press, democracy, the rule of law. It stands up to the aggression of dictators and against strong men." Biden emphasised that he was speaking as a private citizen, not a candidate. But the possibility he will challenge Trump in 2020 hung over his remarks.

At a subsequent news conference, he confirmed that he was considering a presidential run, and would make a decision "in the near term." Democrats and Europeans were not the only ones offering criticism of Trump. The president's fellow Republican, Senator Lindsey Graham of South Carolina, praised the president for trying to shake up the foreign policy status quo. But he also left little doubt that he sharply disagrees with Trump's moves to get out of Syria and Afghanistan without consulting allies. Loading Europe's calculus in deciding how to handle Trump is bound up in the question of whether he will serve one term or two, and whether his America First approach will survive beyond his presidency.

Some in Europe have argued that Trump is more symptom than cause of a changed America, and that the continent needs to urgently ease its dependence on the US for protection. Merkel herself has called for Europe to "take our destiny into our own hands". But her actions have not been nearly as dramatic as her words. Europe has struggled to unify or to take the steps needed to stand apart from America. Meanwhile, Merkel has studiously avoided taking the bait when Trump has provoked her with jibes on the campaign trail or on Twitter. Her remarks on Saturday marked a striking departure, with the chancellor - who has said she is in her final term - appearing unburdened by the need to avoid offence. Longtime observers of Merkel's political evolution said that they saw a chancellor who had decided - in her deliberate fashion - to take a clear shot at the Trump officials in the audience.