Faced with attacks from Donald Trump and his government, Europeans held joint speeches on Friday at the Munich Security Conference in Germany, aiming to "revive" trust between Europe and Washington. Emmanuel Macron notably proposed taking Europe as an “example” rather than “caricaturing” it.

Published on: 02/13/2026 - 11:03 p.m.

At the opening of the Munich Security Conference, European leaders sent a clear message to the United States and Donald Trump on Friday February 13: it is a question of "reviving" the transatlantic link and taking Europe as an "example".

"Europe has been vilified as an aging, slow and fragmented construction, relegated by history. As an over-regulated and apathetic economy which would turn away from innovation. As a society prey to barbaric migrations which would corrupt its precious traditions", declared Friday evening Emmanuel Macron in English in Munich, calling for an end to "caricaturing" 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 delivered a year ago at the same platform by American Vice-President JD Vance.

Also read: How the Munich Security Conference became the forum for global divisions

“Let us repair and revive transatlantic trust together,” German Chancellor Friedrich Merz had previously declared, also in English, to Europe's “American friends,” at the opening of the conference which brought together more than 60 heads of state and government.

“In the era of great power rivalry, even the United States will not be strong enough to go it alone,” warned the German chancellor.

Same speech from the Finnish President, Alexander Stubb: “There are issues on which we can work with the Americans – NATO, defense, technology, minerals, in our case icebreakers (...). So there are many things that 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.

Informal exchanges and secret meetings

“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 they are ready to do for the Europeans," Emmanuel Macron declared to 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 Wang Yi for his part affirmed that China's position is "constant, (...) actively promoting peace talks".

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

The war in Ukraine at the heart of many discussions

“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 Friedrich Merz and Emmanuel Macron, as well as the leaders of Canada, NATO and the European Union (EU), held a meeting with Volodymyr 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 he was also "ready to talk" with Russia "if that brings something", but observed for his part that Moscow did not yet have the "will to have a serious discussion".

Also read: Why Ukraine decided to dissolve its International Legions

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.

“Constructive” discussions between Rubio and Mette Frederiksen

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.

Also read Why Greenland is obsessed with Donald Trump: the real reasons for his threats

Marco Rubio met on this subject with Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen and his Greenlandic counterpart Jens-Frederik Nielsen, for discussions described as "constructive" by Mette Frederiksen. The United States Secretary of State, considered less ideological than JD Vance, is leading the American delegation this year and is scheduled to 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 his agency and Iran on inspections of the nuclear program was "completely possible", but that it was necessary to "walk on a tightrope" to move the dialogue forward.

With AFP

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