Security Conference: Europeans Call on US to Reason

The Europeans called Donald Trump’s United States to reason on Friday, on the first day Friday of the Munich Security Conference, with the French president proposing to take Europe as an “example” rather than the other way around, and the German chancellor inviting “American friends” to “revive” transatlantic confidence.

“Europe has been vilified as an aging, slow and fragmented construction, relegated by history. Like an overregulated and apathetic economy that turns away from innovation. Like a society prey to barbaric migrations which would corrupt its precious traditions,” Emmanuel Macron declared in English on Sunday evening in Munich, calling for an end to the “caricaturing” of the old continent.

Europe is even described “in certain circles as a repressive continent where speech is not free”, he added, in a response to the offensive speech against the old continent delivered a year ago at the same platform by American Vice-President JD Vance.

“Let us repair and revive transatlantic confidence together”, declared before him, also in English, Chancellor Merz, towards the “American friends” of Europe, during the opening of the conference which brought together more than 60 heads of state and government. But “in the era of rivalry between great powers, even the United States will not be powerful enough to go it alone,” warned the German chancellor.

Finnish President Alexander Stubb agreed: “There are issues we can work on with the Americans – NATO, defense, technology, minerals, in our case icebreakers (…). So there are many things we can do, while cordially disagreeing on things related to the EU or international institutions, the liberal international order and climate change,” he said.

The German Chancellor, for his part, also indicated that he had “started confidential discussions with the French president on the subject of the European nuclear deterrent”, which France is the only country in Europe, with the United Kingdom which also has the atomic bomb, to be able to provide.

“A strong Europe in a strong NATO”

“Europe is assuming more of a leadership role within NATO,” said the Secretary General of the Atlantic Alliance, Mark Rutte, who believes that “a strong Europe in a strong NATO means that the transatlantic bond will be stronger than ever”.

The relationship “is in the midst of a lot of uncertainty.” But we have to clarify what we want for ourselves and what we have to do. And the United States has to clarify what it is ready to do for the Europeans,” Mr. Macron told journalists upon his arrival.

In addition to the official debates, the Munich meeting which takes place until Sunday around two hotels in the historic center of the Bavarian capital under heavy police surveillance is an opportunity for informal exchanges and secret meetings.

The head of Ukrainian diplomacy Andriï Sybiga wrote on

Mr. Wang for his part affirmed that China’s position is “constant, (…) actively promoting peace talks”.

Western governments and kyiv accuse Beijing of providing Russia with crucial economic support for its war effort, including military components for its defense industry.

Ukraine, Greenland, Iran

“It is good to have a strong partnership with the Americans,” Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said on the sidelines of the conference. But Europe “needs an independent defense industry, very strong (in) partnership with the United States,” he insisted. “This is our continent.”

European leaders, including MM. Merz and Macron, along with the leaders of Canada, NATO and the EU, held a meeting with Mr. Zelensky on Ukraine. American Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who met on Friday with his Chinese counterpart, did not participate in this meeting due to a busy schedule, according to an American official.

Emmanuel Macron recently called for a resumption of dialogue with Vladimir Putin. Questioned in Munich, the German Chancellor said on Friday that he was also “ready to talk” with Russia “if that brings something”, but observed for his part that Russia did not “yet have the will to have a serious discussion”.

The next round of negotiations between Moscow, kyiv and Washington to try to find a diplomatic solution to the war in Ukraine will be held Tuesday and Wednesday in Geneva, the Kremlin announced.

Emmanuel Macron stressed in Munich that Europe should “define its rules of coexistence” with Russia once a peace agreement is reached.

And if they want to be in a “position of strength” to discuss with Russia in the future, the countries of the Old Continent must “actively develop” their “toolbox” in terms of defense, particularly in terms of “precision deep strike” systems, he said.

At the center of the Munich debates, the organizers included “the international order ravaged by blows”. With in particular Greenland, coveted by President Donald Trump.

Marco Rubio met on this subject with Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen and his Greenlandic counterpart Jens-Frederik Nielsen, discussions described as “constructive” by Ms. Frederiksen.

Mr. Rubio, considered less ideological than JD Vance, is leading the American delegation this year, and will speak publicly on Saturday.

Finally, also present in Munich, the Secretary General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Rafael Grossi estimated that finding an agreement between the Agency and Tehran on inspections of the Iranian nuclear program was “completely possible”, but that it was necessary to “walk on a tightrope” to move the dialogue forward.