Diverging Views on Europe’s Role
The Munich Security Conference laid bare contrasting visions of the West. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio urged Europe to help preserve the West as a common civilisation, warning that mismanaged policies on climate and migration threaten its future. He framed America as inseparable from Europe, calling for stronger transatlantic unity.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said she felt reassured by Rubio’s comments, but EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas pushed back, insisting Europe does not need saving and rejecting portrayals of a decadent, endangered continent.
Meanwhile, Volodymyr Zelenskyy called on European leaders to set a timeline for Ukraine’s EU membership, aiming for the country to be “technically ready” by 2027.
Security Concerns and NATO Commitments
Zelenskyy also criticized Europe’s absence from U.S.-brokered peace talks with Russia, calling it a “big mistake” and highlighting Europe’s central role in providing military and financial aid to Ukraine. Lithuanian President Gitanas Nausėda echoed the view that European efforts matter little if Russia refuses genuine negotiations.
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz warned that the post–WWII rules-based order is gone, replaced by unpredictable “big power politics,” emphasizing that Europe must assert its freedom and strengthen its defense capabilities.
French President Emmanuel Macron announced ongoing dialogue with Germany on nuclear deterrence to align strategic approaches amid doubts over U.S. commitment. Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez cautioned against nuclear rearmament, calling it too risky and costly.
Greenland, Mutual Defence, and EU Preparedness
The Arctic spotlight returned with U.S. Donald Trump’s past threats over Greenland. Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen stressed territorial integrity as non-negotiable while signaling possibilities for enhanced U.S.-Danish cooperation. Greenlandic Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen called pressure from external powers “unacceptable” but affirmed his country’s commitment to NATO.
Von der Leyen highlighted the need to activate the EU’s mutual defense clause, Article 42(7), arguing that effective defense requires trust, capability, and faster decision-making. She also urged stronger partnerships with allies like the U.K. and emphasized the bloc’s €800 billion program to bolster readiness before 2030 amid security uncertainties.
