German Chancellor Friedrich Merz (R) and US Secretary of State Marco Rubio shake hands during a bilateral meeting on the sidelines of the Munich Security Conference (MSC) in Munich, Germany, February 13, 2026. PHOTO: AFP
European leaders on Friday called for a reset in relations with the United States as they gathered at a major security conference overshadowed by President Donald Trump’s repeated broadsides against traditional transatlantic ties.
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz urged “a new transatlantic partnership,” while French President Emmanuel Macron called for “a strong Europe” as more than 60 leaders convened for the annual Munich Security Conference.
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer is set to tell the conference on Saturday that Europe is “a sleeping giant” that must rely less on the United States for its defence, according to a preview released by his office.
This year’s gathering comes amid strained relations between Europe and Washington after Trump threatened to take over Greenland and criticised what he described as “decaying” and “weak” European nations.
Russia’s war against Ukraine, which will enter its fifth year this month, tops the agenda, along with efforts by European NATO members to boost defence spending in line with Trump’s demands amid fears Moscow could expand further into their territory.
European leaders defended their security commitments and the NATO alliance, which has been unsettled by Trump’s rhetoric.
“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.”
The conference comes a year after U.S. Vice President JD Vance used the same stage to assail European policies on immigration and free speech, remarks that stunned allies across the continent.
Macron strongly defended Europe, saying “everyone should take their cue from us, instead of criticising us.”
Starmer’s office said his address would outline “a vision of European security and greater European autonomy that does not herald U.S. withdrawal but answers the call for more burden sharing in full and remakes the ties that have served us so well.”
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who arrived Friday, is also scheduled to speak Saturday, as is Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, conference organisers said.
A German government source said Merz and Rubio met at the conference and discussed “Ukraine, the status of negotiations with Russia and further support for the country, particularly in terms of military aid.”
They also discussed Iran and NATO, and “Rubio praised Germany’s steps to strengthen the alliance,” the source said.
Rubio also met Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi on the conference sidelines at a time of heightened tensions between Washington and Beijing.
They agreed to strengthen cooperation, and Wang told Rubio that “dialogue is better than confrontation, cooperation is better than conflict, and win-win outcomes are better than zero-sum games,” according to China’s state news agency Xinhua.
Rubio held a 15-minute meeting with the prime ministers of Denmark and Greenland to discuss the future sovereignty of the Arctic island. Denmark’s Mette Frederiksen described the talks as “constructive.”
Tensions spiked last month when Trump renewed threats to annexe Greenland, an autonomous territory of NATO ally Denmark, prompting European nations to push back firmly.
Merz, Macron and the leaders of the European Union, Canada and NATO met with Zelenskyy on Friday for talks focused on Ukraine.
A U.S. official said Rubio did not attend those talks because of a packed schedule but was “engaging on Russia-Ukraine in many of his meetings” in Munich.
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha said he discussed ending the Russian invasion with Wang, whose country remains a close partner of Moscow.
Wang told Sybiha that Beijing was “willing to provide Ukraine with new humanitarian aid,” according to a Chinese Foreign Ministry readout.
Macron said a new framework would be needed to address what he called “an aggressive Russia” once the fighting in Ukraine ends.
“If it makes sense to talk, we are willing to talk,” Merz said. “But as you can see with the American side, Russia is not yet willing to talk seriously.”
Zelenskyy, who has been urged by Trump to “get moving” on a deal to end the war, visited a drone factory near Munich with German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius before meeting European leaders.
“It’s good to have a strong partnership with Americans, but I think that Europe needs an independent defence industry, very strong,” Zelenskyy said.
NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte said on the sidelines that Europe was “stepping up, taking more of a leadership role within NATO” and “taking more care of its own defence.”
“A strong Europe in a strong NATO means that the transatlantic bond will be stronger than ever,” Rutte said.
