DW News · Feb 13, 2026 · Collected from RSS
During a speech at the Munich Security Conference, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz acknowledged a "deep rift" between Europe and the US under the Trump administration and called for a revival of "trans-Atlantic trust."
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz urged a new "trans-Atlantic partnership" during his address at the Munich Security Conference (MSC) on Friday. However, in the speech, he also placed great emphasis on what he said was a necessity for Germany and Europe to take on a proactive role in a fast-changing geopolitical environment that he described as a phase of new great-power politics — "a dangerous game." 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 where freedoms are "endangered." As examples, he spoke of Russia's "brutal war against Ukraine" and "violent revisionism," and China's ambitions to gain increased global influence and the US' reaction to this. He stressed the importance of the Western military alliance NATO for both sides of the Atlantic. "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. 'The culture war of the MAGA movement is not ours' At the same time, Merz said that there was an ideological divide between Europe and the US under President Donald Trump. 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 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." Germany and Europe faced with new reality — Merz The chancellor stressed, however, that Germany would not take part in the great-power rivalry, saying: "Never again will we Germany go it alone. That is a lasting lesson from out history." But at the same time, he called on Europe both to recognize the new reality and to become more proactive in pursuing its interests and values. "We are not at the mercy of this world," he said. "We can shape it." "A sovereign Europe is our best response to this new era. Today, our most urgent task is to unite and strengthen Europe," he continued, adding that the continent should become a global political factor with its own security strategy." Rubio speech aims to reassure Europe Merz's appeal for a new trans-Atlantic partnership was partly echoed in the speech by US Secretary of State Marco Rubio to the conference on Saturday, in which he emphasized his country's roots in Europe and its values. The speech has been seen as a counterbalance to Vance's head-first attack on the continent to some extent. Merz and German Foreign Minister Wadephul met with Rubio, who is leading a US delegation to the conference, on the first day of the event. "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. Edited by: Louis Oelofse