European leaders called Friday for a reset in relations with the United States as they met at a top security conference where US President Donald Trump’s potshots at traditional transatlantic ties loomed large.
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz urged “a new transatlantic partnership” and French President Emmanuel Macron called for “a strong Europe” as more than 60 leaders gathered for the annual Munich Security Conference.
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer will meanwhile tell the conference Saturday that Europe is “a sleeping giant” and must rely less on the United States for its defence, his office said in a preview of his remarks.
This year’s conference comes at a time of strained ties between Europe and the United States, after Trump threatened to take over Greenland and criticised “decaying” and “weak” European nations.
Russia’s war against Ukraine, set to enter its fifth year this month, is high on the agenda, alongside efforts by European NATO members to raise their defence budgets, in line with Trump’s demands, out of concern that Moscow could seek to expand into their territory.
European leaders at the gathering defended their security commitments and the NATO alliance, which Trump’s rhetoric has rattled.
“Being a part of NATO is not only Europe’s competitive advantage. It’s also the United States’ competitive advantage. So let’s repair and revive transatlantic trust together,” Merz said.
“In the era of great-power rivalry, even the United States will not be powerful enough to go it alone.”
