Saturday 14 / February / 2026
Munich: German Chancellor Friedrich Merz urged a new "trans-Atlantic partnership" during his address at the Munich Security Conference (MSC) on Friday.
He stressed not even the US was powerful enough to go it alone in an increasingly tough world.
Merz referenced a speech by US Vice President JD Vance during last year's MSC, where Vance chided Europeans over the state of free speech on the continent and migration.
"A rift has opened up between Europe and the United States. Vice President JD Vance said this very openly here in Munich a year ago," Merz said.
"He was right. The culture war of the MAGA movement is not ours," Merz said, referring to US President Donald Trump's "Make America Great Again" slogan. "Freedom of speech ends here with us when that speech goes against human dignity and the constitution. We do not believe in tariffs and protectionism, but in free trade."
The Trump administration in December imposed visa entry bans on five prominent European figures over accusations they are "censoring" Americans online. Trump in his second term also announced 20% tariffs on EU goods until a trade framework deal was reached later in the year between the two sides.
Trump's push for the US acquisition of Greenland, a territory of NATO member Denmark, has also prompted alarm in Europe. Merz said that Danish Prime Minister Mette Fredriksen "knows that she can rely on European solidarity. There is no limitation to that."
US not powerful enough to go it alone in era of 'great power rivalry'
Merz said the old international rule-based order was being destroyed.
"This order, however, imperfect it was even at its best, no longer exists in that form," Merz said, speaking of a dangerous new era of "great power politics" where freedoms are "endangered."
Merz's comments come as Russia's invasion of Ukraine will soon enter its fifth year. China is also becoming more aggressive toward the self-governing island of Taiwan, which Beijing views as its territory.
"Being a part of NATO is not only Europe's competitive advantage," Merz said. "It's also the United States' competitive advantage. So let's repair and revive trans-Atlantic trust together."
"In the era of great power rivalry, even the United States will not be powerful enough to go it alone," the German chancellor said.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio is leading a group of officials from the Trump administration to the Munich Security Conference. Rubio is often seen as more diplomatic and less abrasive towards Europe than JD Vance.
Merz and German Foreign Minister Wadephul met with Rubio on the first day of the MSC.
"The United States and Germany are close friends & steadfast partners," Wadephul said in a post on X. "Today's meeting with Secretary Rubio and the chancellor reaffirmed our strong trans-Atlantic ties, based on our shared interests, and our agreement on many key issues — including a strong NATO & a strong Europe."
Also in attendance at the MSC are Democrats such as California Governor Gavin Newsom, New York congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Arizona Senator Ruben Gallago who may push for the Europeans to take a tougher stance towards the Trump administration.
UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, French President Emmanuel Macron, NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy will also take part in this year's MSC.
