Merz: Let's repair the damaged US relationship

TT

Updated 19.52 | Published 11.56

 

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz arrives at the Munich Security Conference. Photo: Michael Probst /AP/TT

The frayed relationship between Europe and the US is the focus of the Munich Security Conference. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz is blunt about the state of affairs, but still calls for dialogue.

- Let's repair and revive transatlantic trust together, he says in a speech.

After a tumultuous year, more than 60 heads of state and government are meeting at the Munich Security Conference. The area around the luxury Bayerischer Hof hotel is full of police and security checkpoints. In addition to the heads of state and government, scores of ministers and foreign and security experts are also attending.

In his opening speech, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz states that the rules-based world order no longer exists. He paints a picture of a new world where great powers govern according to their own rules.

“It is fast, tough and unpredictable,” says Merz.

A more assertive Europe

In his speech, Merz addresses the United States directly, switching from German to English. He states that NATO is the strongest alliance in the world.

“Not even the United States is powerful enough to stand on its own,” says Merz.

His recipe for the crisis is a more assertive and stronger Europe, both economically and in terms of security.

“A strong Europe is our best answer in this new era. Uniting and strengthening Europe is our primary task today,” says Merz.

The greatest interest is surrounding the speech that US Secretary of State Marco Rubio will give on Saturday morning. Last year, world leaders were shocked by the harsh tone of Vice President JD Vance’s speech.

– It has been clearly damaging to trust for quite some time now, says Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson (M).

Waiting for Rubio

Kristersson has no direct expectations for Rubio's speech, but points out that it is a different type of politician who is leading the American delegation this year.

– The vast majority of people assess that it is a fully functioning discussion with Rubio on most issues, he says.

– I have no expectations of any new strange things, but also no expectations that they will change the policy in any way. It is probably fixed.

No decisions are made at the security conference. It is more of an opportunity for politicians and experts from both sides of the Atlantic to meet. A meeting place for security policy in a rather strange security policy time, Kristersson summarizes.

– So it is clear that if it can pour some oil on the waves and we can have good conversations instead of strange conversations, then it is a value in itself.