Clashing Visions of Europe’s Role
At this year’s Munich Security Conference, the West’s identity and purpose came under scrutiny. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio urged European nations to help “save the West” from decline, criticizing poorly designed policies on climate and migration while calling for greater transatlantic unity. Rubio described America as a “child of Europe,” emphasizing that its fate is tied to the continent.
EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas rejected the idea that Europe is in crisis, asserting that the continent is not facing civilisational collapse. Meanwhile, Volodymyr Zelenskyy pressed European leaders to commit to a timeline for Ukraine’s EU accession, suggesting the country could be “technically ready” by 2027.
Europe’s Place in Peace Talks
Zelenskyy also criticized Europe’s marginal role in U.S.-led negotiations with Russia, calling the absence a “big mistake.” Although European countries are major donors of military and financial aid to Ukraine and are expected to bear much of the future security guarantees, they have largely been sidelined.
Lithuanian President Gitanas Nausėda highlighted that Russian President Vladimir Putin shows no willingness to negotiate, with the U.S. allowing Europe’s exclusion. French President Emmanuel Macron said Europe will need to fully redesign its security framework in response to Russia’s aggression. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz warned that the post-WWII rules-based order is gone and that Europe must assert its freedom in a world returning to “big power politics.”
Defense, Nuclear Strategy, and Arctic Tensions
Security discussions also focused on Europe’s nuclear deterrence. Macron confirmed coordination with Germany on a shared strategy, while Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez warned that nuclear rearmament carries high risks.
Tensions over Greenland resurfaced, with former U.S. President Donald Trump previously threatening to assert control. Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen reaffirmed territorial integrity as a “red line,” and Greenlandic Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen called U.S. pressure “unacceptable” but pledged full alliance cooperation.
European Commission President von der Leyen stressed the need to activate the EU’s mutual defense clause, Article 42(7), arguing it must be backed by capability and trust. She also called for faster decision-making on EU defense issues and stronger partnerships with allies, particularly the UK, as the bloc prepares an €800 billion defense program ahead of 2030.
