‘Be prepared for sacrifice’

Using AfD jargon

In his Munich speech, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio reaffirmed all the key elements of Trumpism. He called on “Europe” to join the United States in its “task of renewal and restauration” without further ado. Rubio extolled the virtues of force, not only praising American strikes on Venezuela and Iran, but also stating quite explicitly that “we can no longer place the so-called global order above the vital interests of our peoples and our states.”[1] This posture aligns with the statement made in January by President Trump that he does not feel bound by international law, but only by his own “morality”.[2] Rubio declared in jargon echoing the rhetoric of Germany’s far-right Alternative für Deutschland (AfD) that science-based climate policies were a “climate cult”. And US allies should not allow themselves to be “shackled by guilt and shame”. The right wing of the AfD also refers to a supposed “cult of guilt”. Rubio finally announced, with the usual MAGA hyperbole, that Washington wanted to “renew the greatest civilisation in human history”, which meant rejecting migration. The US aimed to “rebuke and deter the forces of civilizational erasure”. However, unlike Trump or Vice President JD Vance, Rubio refrained from direct insults and pretended that a supportive Washington merely “had a profound sense of concern” about the future of Europe, with which it wanted to continue cooperating.

‘Not our culture war’

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, speaking on Friday at the opening session of the Munich Security Conference, had already clearly opposed Trump’s key positions on Friday. “A chasm, a deep rift, has opened between Europe and the United States,” Merz said. “We do not believe in tariffs and protectionism ... We adhere to climate agreements and the World Health Organization. Moreover, the MAGA movement’s culture war is one we do not share.”[3] Merz also announced that Berlin wanted to “build a strong network of global partnerships” with countries such as Canada, Japan, Turkey, India, Brazil, South Africa and the Gulf states. The aim is to reduce dependence on the United States. Indeed, shortly before the Munich Security Conference it was announced that Merz would soon be travelling to China with a business delegation larger than any since Chancellor Angela Merkel’s first trip to China in 2006. This initiative directly contradicts US demands. On the other hand, Merz was also careful to announce his intention to “establish a new transatlantic partnership”. The German Chancellor apparently believes that the Trump administration will have to make some concessions, for even the US “reaches the limits of its own power when it goes it alone.”

Divorce not an option?

The three-step approach of distancing oneself from the Trump administration, seeking closer cooperation with various other states in order to gain greater independence and, at the same time, continuing the once lucrative transatlantic cooperation in a modified form, was reflected in the prominent reception given in Munich to Gavin Newsom, the Governor of California. Newsom is one of President Trump’s most vocal opponents in the US. In Munich he once again declared that Trump “is an invasive species”, that Trump conquered the Republican Party, and that “our republic is being destroyed in real time” by Trump’s far-right administration.[4] Yet the US president was, Newsom claimed, now “in retreat” and “historically unpopular” among American voters. Newsom’s message: stand up to him and fight fire with fire, then he will back down. Newsom also met with Merz on the side-lines of the Munich Security Conference. He also discussed environmental policy with German Environment Minister Carsten Schneider, agreeing closer cooperation on green technologies, emissions reduction and adaptation to climate change.[5] With regard to transatlantic relations, Newsom was quoted as saying, “Divorce is not an option.”[6]

‘Willing to make sacrifices’

Turning to Europe’s future, and echoing the frank Davos speech by Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney (german-foreign-policy.com reported [7]), Merz observed in Munich that the previous “international order” no longer existed: “We have crossed the threshold into an era that is once again openly characterised by power and, above all, great power politics.”[8] In this context, he argued, “the United States’ claim to leadership is being challenged, perhaps even forfeited.” It was now time to “strengthen” Europe, and this step included “European nuclear deterrence”. On this, Merz said he had already “held preliminary talks with French President Emmanuel Macron.” Germany for its part was strengthening itself “militarily, politically, economically and technologically”. He said he intended to “make the Bundeswehr the strongest conventional army in Europe as soon as possible – an army that can resist if it has to.” With regard to Germany’s foreseeable dominance in the EU, Merz declared that Berlin would pursue “leadership in the spirit of partnership”, not hegemonic fantasies”. This, however, “will require us to be prepared for change, for transformation and, yes, even for sacrifice – not at some point in the future, but now.”

‘A self-sustaining pillar’

The way forward remained, he said, to focus on NATO and strengthen the position of European member states in the Alliance. As German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius has put it, “Europe must take the lead in providing strong conventional forces.”[9] Berlin still hopes that the US will, in return, continue to provide strategic and nuclear support. In other words, the US should perform the tasks that European states have not yet been able to accomplish on their own. Reports from the Munich Security Conference indicate that such a division of labour within NATO was one of the topics discussed by Chancellor Merz and State Secretary Rubio. The German Chancellor had previously stated that “our greatest priority is strengthening Europe within NATO.” The aim of the massive military build-up was to become “a strong, self-sustaining pillar within the Alliance.”[10] On this, Merz insisted that it did not mean European forces becoming a “substitute for NATO”. Yet think-tank advisors to the German government are arguing that any “Europeanisation of the Alliance” should be designed to be “compatible ... with a Plan B” – Plan B being either a “far-reaching complete takeover of the Alliance by the Europeans” or the “establishment of a European defence system outside the Alliance”.[11] Both strategies would enable the states of Europe to rise to the level of a military power with global relevance.

[1] Secretary of State Marco Rubio at the Munich Security Conference. state.gov 14.02.2026.

[2] See: A hitman and his accomplice.

[3] „Unsere Freiheit behaupten wir mit unseren Nachbarn“. bundesregierung.de 13.02.2026.

[4] Demokrat Newsom nennt Trump „invasive Spezies“ – und attestiert ihm Machtverlust. spiegel.de 15.02.2026.

[5] Münchner Sicherheitskonferenz: Bundesumweltminister Carsten Schneider und der kalifornische Gouverneur Gavin Newsom vereinbaren weitere Zusammenarbeit im Bereich Klima- und Umweltschutz. bundesumweltministerium.de 13.02.2026.

[6] Peter Carstens, Matthias Wyssuwa: Die Münchner Fahrradwerkstatt. Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung 14.02.2026.

[7] See: Bruch in der Weltordung.

[8] „Unsere Freiheit behaupten wir mit unseren Nachbarn“. bundesregierung.de 13.02.2026.

[9] Pistorius erwartet stärkere Arbeitsteilung in der Nato. handelsblatt.com 14.02.2026.

[10] „Unsere Freiheit behaupten wir mit unseren Nachbarn“. bundesregierung.de 13.02.2026.

[11] Barbara Lippert, Stefan Mair: Mit, ohne, gegen Washington: Die Neubestimmung der Beziehungen Europas zu den USA. SWP-Studie 2026/S 03. Berlin, 22.01.2026. See also: „Europas militärische Souveränität”.