US Softens Tone on Europe but Seeks Alignment with Trump's Agenda

Germany - Ekhbary News Agency

US Softens Tone on Europe but Seeks Alignment with Trump's Agenda

A palpable sense of relief, marked by three rounds of applause and even moments of relaxed laughter, filled the auditorium. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio declared at the Munich Security Conference on Saturday that the United States counts on Europe for its "restoration of world order" plan, conceived by Donald Trump. He implied that it is up to European countries to decide if they wish to join "a future as proud, sovereign, and vital as the past of our civilization.".

Rubio stated that the United States prefers to act in concert with the continent, with which it feels united in an alliance he described as anchored in common Western civilization. "We are prepared to [do it] alone, but our preference is to do it together with you, our friends in Europe," he assured. "We do not want our allies to be weak, because that would make us weaker; we do not want to separate, but rather revitalize the alliance," he insisted.

Addressing the prevailing headlines about the end of the transatlantic era, Rubio affirmed, "This is not our objective, nor our desire," referring to the crisis of confidence in the United States within NATO, emphasizing the shared bond of Western civilization between Washington and European nations.

Rubio's speech, while firm in its content, contrasted sharply with the address delivered in February 2025 in Munich by then-Vice President J.D. Vance. Vance had launched a strong critique against European leaders, asserting that freedom of expression is in decline in Europe, partly due to the "cordon sanitaire" imposed on the far-right. Marco Rubio, in contrast, is perceived as a figure more inclined towards transatlantic dialogue, although he did not shy away from articulating key tenets of Trumpism, such as his stance on immigration: "Mass immigration is destabilizing Western societies."

Later, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen stated that Rubio's speech had "greatly reassured" her. Nevertheless, given the current international landscape, the German leader appealed for the activation of the European Union's (EU) mutual defense clause as a means for Europe to become more independent in ensuring its own security. "It is an obligation enshrined in our treaties, in Article 42.7. One for all, and all for one," she asserted, denying that this concept is "contrary to the Atlantic Alliance."

"I believe the time has come to bring Europe's mutual defense clause to life. Mutual defense is not an optional task for the EU (...) It is our collective commitment to support each other in case of aggression," the European leader declared during her address at the Munich Security Conference.

This clause was introduced in the Treaty of Lisbon in 2007, under the so-called Article 42.7, which obliges EU member states to "lend aid and assistance with all the means in their power" if another member state falls victim to aggression on its territory.

Earlier, China's top diplomat, Wang Yi, had spoken, accusing "certain people" in the United States of attacking and slandering his country. He warned that if Washington "crosses red lines" on Taiwan, it "would likely lead to conflict." Donald Trump is scheduled to travel to China in April to meet with his counterpart, Xi Jinping.

Rubio's Saturday address followed a significant absence on Friday afternoon. Rubio skipped a meeting with European leaders on the war in Ukraine, held on the sidelines of the conference, which he was scheduled to attend. This decision was viewed by European capitals as a signal of Washington's diminished interest in involving Europe in its efforts to resolve the conflict. The meeting was with leaders from Germany, Poland, Finland, and the European Commission, and was cancelled at the last minute due to alleged scheduling conflicts.

However, Rubio did hold a bilateral meeting on Friday with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, who on that day called for repairing the transatlantic bond. The central topic was Ukraine, according to German sources. They also discussed the state of negotiations with Russia, military support for Kyiv, as well as the situation within NATO and Europe's role in the alliance.

Rubio is leading a substantial US delegation of about fifty congressmen and senators in Munich, as emphasized several times in Berlin in recent days by the conference president, Wolfgang Ischinger. The delegation is not solely composed of representatives of Trumpism or the MAGA movement – the segment of American politics most allergic to Atlanticism and the European Union. It also includes voices such as Democratic Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and California Governor Gavin Newsom, who in January called for global resistance against Trumpism at the World Economic Forum in Davos.

This year's Munich forum brings together approximately 60 heads of state and government, 65 foreign ministers, and 30 defense ministers, as well as representatives from international organizations, including NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. Other speakers during these days include Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, and EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Kaja Kallas. Russia has not been invited since the full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, which will soon mark its fourth anniversary.

Ekhbary News Agency