Uncertain Allies

“An immensely timely book. . . . Covers a variety of deeply informed perspectives that make it a compelling as well as informative read. . . . A must-read for students, it will be of interest to all parties concerned about the direction of Europe in today’s world.”—Dianne Kirby, European History Quarterly

“Early post-war America saw European unity as vital. Donald Trump saw it as a threat. So had Nixon and Kissinger. Klaus Larres analyzes the turning point of the 1970s with great authority, based on original documents and interviews, including with Kissinger himself. Uncertain Allies is essential reading for understanding the modern world.”—Vernon Bogdanor, author of Britain and Europe in a Troubled World

“Klaus Larres deploys his fine skills as a writer and his foreign policy expertise to make an interesting case on the transatlantic relationship. Uncertain Allies is an engaging and thought-provoking read.”—Michael Clauss, German ambassador to the European Union

“Klaus Larres’ engaging study tellingly documents how personal ambition and the search for uncontested control impacted Henry Kissinger’s relations with European allies during the economic and political crises of the 1970s.”—Charles S. Maier, Harvard University

“The early 1970s represented a pivotal moment in U.S. ties with Europe. Klaus Larres tells this story in a fascinating and highly readable manner. Essential reading.”—Daniel S. Hamilton, Johns Hopkins University/Woodrow Wilson Center

“Klaus Larres dissects the complexities and paradoxes in alliance politics that are generally concealed by Rose Garden speeches and the rhetoric of NATO summits. Policy makers and scholars will find much to ponder in this painstakingly researched account of a US giant, idealism put aside, behaving like a normal great power with interests and anxieties all its own.”—Bob Carr, former Australian Foreign Minister