European leaders took the opportunity at the Munich Security Conference to call for a reboot in the relationship with the United States, expressing their concern about the relationship’s trajectory with President Trump’s repeated targeting of the European continent. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said, “We need a new transatlantic partnership.” French President Emmanuel Macron emphasized the importance of “a strong Europe, in order to stake out our own place in the world for more security.”
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, who was scheduled to make remarks at the conference on Saturday, described the European continent as “a sleeping giant that needs to break its default dependency on the US for defense.” The British Prime Minister’s office indicated that his speech at the conference would advocate for more independence for the European continent, more burden-sharing in NATO, and a new transatlantic relationship, rather than the United States leaving the relationship.
The war in Ukraine, which began five years ago, was the main focus at the conference. The European NATO countries are being urged to increase their defense spending in line with the United States’ expectations, while at the same time fearing that Russia could extend its invasion on European land. Merz emphasized that NATO’s role is to strengthen both the United States and Europe, and that there’s a need for the Atlantic relationship to build trust. “Even the United States will not be powerful enough to go it alone.”
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio took part in the conference, meeting with Merz and discussing issues related to Ukraine, Iran, NATO, and military aid. Rubio also met with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang, with the aim of establishing dialogue and cooperation, given the tensions between China and the U.S. A brief meeting took place with Denmark’s and Greenland’s prime ministers, discussing issues related to Greenland’s future, as it is an autonomous region, and given the tensions surrounding its annexation by Denmark.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy visited a drone factory near Munich, meeting with Germany’s Defense Minister Boris Pistorius, and later met with European leaders to discuss the current conflict. The president highlighted the significance of a powerful, independent defense industry in Europe, even as it maintains a strategic partnership with the U.S.
The Munich Conference demonstrated Europe’s desire for autonomy within NATO. NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte mentioned that “Europe is stepping up, taking more of a leadership role,” and that a stronger Europe within NATO would ultimately reinforce the transatlantic alliance.
However, despite the tensions, European officials reaffirmed their view that cooperating with the US is a necessity. Macron advised Europe to take the initiative and lead by example, rather than simply responding to criticism, and Merz added that Moscow is not yet ready for serious negotiations.
As the Munich Security Conference gets underway, Europe appears to be seeking a balance between independence and alliance, staking its claim to a position of leadership in regional affairs, even as it seeks a new, steady partnership with the US in a world full of uncertainty.
