U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio says ties between the United States and Europe have reached a defining moment as leaders gather for the Munich Security Conference.
Speaking before the meeting in Germany, Rubio said the old world order is gone and a new era in geopolitics is emerging that will force both sides to rethink their roles. He stressed that the United States and Europe remain deeply linked and must discuss how to shape their shared future.
The annual forum in Munich comes after years of turbulence under President Donald Trump, whose harsh rhetoric and disruptive policies have shaken U.S. alliances. European partners have watched Washington topple Venezuela’s leader, threaten other Latin American governments, impose tariffs on allies and rivals and even talk about annexing Greenland from NATO partner Denmark.
Last year at Munich, Vice President JD Vance clashed with European officials after sharply attacking U.S. allies, fuelling fears that Washington is dismantling the international system it helped create. In response, many European governments have tried to close ranks and build more strategic autonomy while still keeping the U.S. inside the alliance.
German diplomat Wolfgang Ischinger warned this week that so called wrecking ball politics are replacing careful reforms, causing sweeping damage to the transatlantic relationship. A new YouGov poll in six major European countries shows views of the United States have slumped to their lowest level since 2016, in some cases not far from perceptions of China, Iran or North Korea and only better than Russia.
European leaders say they want to avoid a rupture with Washington but feel pressured to boost their own defences. Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen said no one wins if old allies fall into conflict, but argued Europe must arm itself as fast as possible in a new world disorder.
The Trump administration’s fierce new tone, including warnings that Europe faces civilisational erasure, has spurred NATO members to increase military spending after years of underinvestment. Still, Europe’s heavy dependence on U.S. security guarantees will take years to unwind, leaving it exposed as the standoff with Russia over the war in Ukraine continues.
Germany’s foreign minister Johann Wadephul said comments from Washington have caused irritation inside NATO and that allies need frank talks in Munich. The head of German industry group BDI, Peter Leibinger, went further, saying Europe must prepare its defence sector to operate with, without and possibly against Washington if needed.
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz will open the conference, which is expected to draw around 70 heads of state and government and more than 140 ministers under tight security. Key participants include Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy and French President Emmanuel Macron, who warned that Europe faces a Chinese trade tsunami and constant instability from the American side.
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