Diverging Views on Europe’s Role
The Munich Security Conference brought together top leaders from the U.S., Europe, and Ukraine, revealing starkly different visions for the future of the West. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio called on Europe to help “save the West” from what he described as civilisational decline caused by poorly designed policies on climate and migration. He urged Europeans to join the U.S., describing America as a “child of Europe” whose destiny remains intertwined with the continent.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said Rubio’s message reassured her about U.S.-EU ties. But EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas rejected the idea that Europe is in danger, calling claims of a “woke, decadent” continent facing erasure misleading. Meanwhile, Volodymyr Zelenskyy pushed for a timeline for Ukraine to join the EU by 2027.
Europe’s Security and Peace Challenges
Zelenskyy criticized Europe’s limited presence in U.S.-brokered peace talks with Russia, calling it a “big mistake” and highlighting that Europe must have a voice in negotiations. Despite providing the largest military and financial support to Ukraine, European countries remain sidelined in talks that largely leave the U.S. in control. Lithuanian President Gitanas Nausėda noted that Russian President Vladimir Putin has shown little willingness to negotiate, while Zelenskyy warned that Moscow aims to divide and rule a “coordinated” Europe. French President Emmanuel Macron said Europe will need to fully redesign its security framework in response to a more aggressive Russia. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz declared the post-WWII rules-based order is effectively over, warning that Europe must assert its freedom in a world returning to “big power politics.”
Nuclear Tensions, Greenland, and EU Defense
Nuclear deterrence and territorial security also dominated discussions. Macron said France is working with Germany to align national nuclear strategies, while Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez cautioned that nuclear rearmament carries enormous risks. Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen reaffirmed that Greenland’s territorial integrity is a “red line,” responding to former U.S. President Donald Trump’s past threats, while Greenlandic Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen called recent trilateral talks a positive first step.
Von der Leyen stressed the need to make Europe’s mutual defense clause, Article 42(7), effective, arguing it must be backed by trust and capability. She also called for faster decision-making on EU defense matters and stronger partnerships with third countries, including the UK, as the bloc launches an €800 billion defense program ahead of 2030.
