German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has called for a stronger Europe to "reset" relations with the United States, asking Washington to "repair and restore trust" in a dangerous new era of great-power politics as the old global order crumbles.
In a speech opening the Munich Security Conference, Merz warned that the US cannot go it alone, but he also said Europe must strengthen its own defenses and mentioned confidential talks with France on nuclear deterrence.
The speech highlighted how European leaders are increasingly seeking to chart an independent path after a year of unprecedented upheaval in transatlantic relations, while at the same time trying to preserve their alliance with Washington, Reuters reports.
Drawing on warnings that the rules-based international order would be destroyed, Merz said: "I'm afraid we have to say it even more bluntly: this order, however imperfect it was even in its best days, no longer exists in that form."
Finally, he switched to English and said: "In an era of great power rivalry, even the United States will not be powerful enough to go it alone. Dear friends, NATO membership is not just a European competitive advantage. It is also a competitive advantage for the United States."
"So let's repair and restore transatlantic trust together," he added.
A year after Vance's attack, Rubio takes a warmer tone
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio also said transatlantic ties are at a "crucial moment" in a rapidly changing world, but he struck a more conciliatory tone, contrasting with Vice President J.D. Vance's remarks in 2025.
At the same gathering of top security officials last year, Vance attacked European allies in a speech that marked the beginning of a series of confrontations with Washington's partners, faced with numerous threats - from Russia's war in Ukraine to major upheavals in global trade.
"I think we are at a crucial moment... the world is changing very quickly before our eyes," Rubio said ahead of his departure for Munich.
"The old world is gone, frankly, the world I grew up in, and we are living in a new era of geopolitics, and that will require all of us to rethink what that looks like and what our role will be," he said.
"The United States is deeply connected to Europe, and our futures have always been connected and will remain so," said Rubio, who has been mentioned as a possible rival to Vance in the 2028 presidential race. "So we just need to talk about what that future looks like."
Merc rejects Vance's speech
This year's gathering is taking place in the shadow of multiple conflicts, including wars in Ukraine, Gaza and Sudan.
Transatlantic ties have long been central to the Munich Security Conference, which began as a Cold War forum for Western defense debate. But the once unquestioned assumption of cooperation on which it rested has been shaken, according to Reuters.
The extent of the damage is also indicated by a YouGov poll released today, conducted in six of Europe's largest countries, which shows that favorability toward the US in Europe has fallen to its lowest level since monitoring began in 2016.
The latest findings are broadly comparable to, and in some cases higher than, threat perceptions from China, Iran or North Korea, although still below Russia, according to YouGov.
US President Donald Trump has ousted the leader of Venezuela, threatened other Latin American countries with similar military action, imposed tariffs on both friends and adversaries and openly talked about annexing Greenland from NATO member Denmark - a move that could effectively end the alliance.
"Nobody in Europe or the United States gains anything from any conflict between old allies," said Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen, who said she would meet with Rubio in Munich.
"So we have to do everything we can to keep Americans close to us, but this is the new world disorder we live in."
Merz said he was in talks with French President Emmanuel Macron about creating a joint European nuclear deterrent, but did not go into details.
Last year, Vance's speech accused European leaders of censoring free speech and failing to control immigration, which Merck strongly rejected.
"A rift has opened between Europe and the United States. Vice President J.D. Vance said it very openly here in Munich a year ago," Merz said.
"He was right. The MAGA movement's culture war is not ours. Freedom of speech ends with us when that speech goes against human dignity and the constitution. We do not believe in tariffs and protectionism, but in free trade," he said, to applause.
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