Munich Security Conference

Merz: The rules-based world order no longer exists

The rules-based world order no longer exists in the form we have come to know it. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said this when he spoke at the Munich Security Conference on Friday, the BBC reports.

He also admitted that a “deep gap” had opened between the United States and Europe. But he appealed for the relationship to be repaired.

He warned the United States that it may have lost its role as a global leader and said that the United States may have reached the limit of what it can achieve on its own, The Guardian reports.

“Autocracies have supporters, democracies have partners and allies,” Merz said.

Marco Rubio: “The fate of Europe is important to the United States”

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio stressed the historical ties between Europe and the United States during his speech at the Munich Security Conference on Saturday. He opened by recalling the historical importance of NATO in maintaining security after World War II.

But he also said that it is a “dangerous delusion” to believe that a rules-based world order built on free trade would be enough to create global peace and prosperity.

He said that the United States cares about Europe and that the fate of Europe will always be important to the United States.

“If we sometimes disagree, our disagreement comes from our deep concern for a Europe that we are connected to, not just economically, not just militarily, we are connected spiritually and we are connected culturally,” Rubio said.

Rubio also said that the United Nations and other international organizations need to be reformed and that cooperation between the United States and Europe can restore a “reasonable foreign policy.” According to Rubio, such work should be led by Donald Trump