If you ask a European official who was at the Munich Security Conference this past weekend about the status of the transatlantic relationship, you are probably going to hear metaphors about managing a problematic, potentially abusive spouse.
Compared to the Munich conference last year, Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s speech was less combative. Vice President JD Vance at the time praised their far-right political rivals and launched a scathing attack on the governments of the biggest European countries.
In contrast, Rubio received a standing ovation for emphasizing the value of shared history and culture as well as transatlantic ties. There are few illusions, despite the fact that the Trump administration and Europeans are once again on speaking terms.
Although it has been covered up, the significant rift created by the Greenland crisis last month has not been resolved. Both parties now see what was once an association of like-minded people as a convenient marriage devoid of love and fundamental trust.
In an interview in Munich, Kaja Kallas, the head of foreign and security affairs for the European Commission, stated, “There is a new equation that you do not really know who is your friend and who is your ally.”
Over the weekend, ministers, parliamentarians, and military leaders flocked to Munich’s Bayerische Hof hotel, acknowledging that the shared principles that once connected Washington to its European allies are no longer as prevalent. Discussions now center on the last connection: hard security interests that are less vulnerable to ideological divisions.
At least when it comes to his side of the political spectrum, Elbridge Colby, the Pentagon’s undersecretary for policy, told the Munich guests that he is not certain that the old “hosannas and shibboleths” about common values between the U.S. and Europe are accurate.
“The deduction is not ‘hey let us pull out,’ but let us anchor our partnership in something more enduring, durable, and real, like similar interests,” he continued.We both want Europe to be able to protect NATO territory, so I would advise concentrating on practical, hands-on issues.”
While insisting that European forces will be primarily responsible for the continent’s conventional defense, Colby reiterated the long-standing American extended nuclear deterrence in Europe at the North Atlantic Treaty Organization ministerial meeting in Brussels ahead of Munich, highlighting the positive. Colby also commended Germany’s and a number of other European partners’ progress in enhancing their military capabilities in the past 12 months.
Ruben Brekelmans, the defense minister of the Netherlands, said in an interview, “Following the conversations we had over the past few weeks, It was crucial to reiterate that, at our core, we are friends, allies, and have a common past. We have strong ties in all directions, and it is recognized and valued that many European nations are taking the initiative.”
Naturally, the main concern with Washington’s emphasis on common interests is how much America’s and Europe’s current security interests truly overlap.
Russia’s fight to conquer Ukraine and Moscow’s potential plans for the Baltic states and other EU members pose the biggest security threat, according to European capitals. In contrast, senior aides like Steve Witkoff have denied that Russia poses a threat to nations outside of Ukraine, and President Trump has frequently described Russia as a source of fantastic business prospects and a potential hedge against China.
Tobias Billström, a former Swedish foreign minister, expressed his disapproval of such sentiments. We must keep in mind that the United States has certain long-term interests. However, he stated that the United States must acknowledge that Russia is a European issue. “This ongoing denial of Russia’s threat has been a source of concern for me over the years, ever since the new administration took office.”
Rubio’s Munich speech warned about the dangers of mass migration, unrestricted commerce, and the “climate cult” without even using the term “Russia.” Although Rubio stated that America’s destiny will always take precedence over Europe’s, he also stated that “we are prepared, if necessary, to achieve this alone.”
Many European officials interpreted these remarks as a warning that Washington’s support for European security was contingent on adopting the philosophy of the Trump administration.
The president of the American-German Institute in Washington, Jeff Rathke, described Rubio’s address as “JD without a beard.” “It is a shift in tone without a shift in policy.” Rubio’s speech in Munich was characterized by one European official as “a smack, but while wearing a silk glove.”
France’s European Affairs Minister Benjamin Haddad stated, “The worst lesson we might learn from this weekend is to say, ‘I can cling to some loving words that I heard in part of his address,’ and press the snooze button.”
The Europeans should stay calm and “concentrate on what we can control: focus on rearmament, on the support for Ukraine and the threat that Russia poses to all our democracies, focus on competitiveness,” he continued, rather than worrying about Trump.
Transatlantic tension has been a result of Trump’s pressure on Ukraine to accept a peace agreement on Russian terms and give up unclaimed territory in the Donetsk region. Most European governments are against this because they believe it would encourage further Russian aggression.
Many European leaders are concerned that the issue could lead to another crisis in transatlantic relations in the coming weeks, as Trump has portrayed Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky as a barrier to peace.
The recent crisis with Trump’s attempt to annex Greenland taught these European leaders that it pays to strike back aggressively. In response to Washington’s retaliatory tariffs, many European countries last month dispatched troops to the Danish island and vowed to use their financial might to strike back. Trump ultimately withdrew his levies and said he would not use force in Greenland in reaction to this coordinated response.
“I can tell that all of the strongmen appreciate strength above anything else. Therefore, you must either portray strength or be powerful yourself. This is quite obvious. And we are truly powerful if we stand together,” stated Kallas, the head of international affairs and security for the European Commission.
Kallas, a former Estonian prime minister, pointed out the inherent difficulty of keeping interests and principles apart. “Our interests are also our morals,” she stated. “The fundamentals of prosperity are also the core values of democracy and human rights.”
She went on to say that although the U.S. and Europe may not always agree, both countries are democracies in a globe where complaints about human rights are common.
In fact, there is still a lot of common ground between the two countries despite the transatlantic animosity that has existed since Trump took office, which gives optimism that the relationship may one day be repaired.
This is OK if the present American administration decides to highlight common interests. However, we think there is more to that based on our encounters with the Americans,” Nils Schmid, Germany’s state secretary of defense, stated in an interview. “I think we should not give up on it because there are still many individuals who insist on shared values if you look at the American political spectrum in a broader sense.”
