Germany’s Chancellor Friedrich Merz acknowledged on Friday, February 13th, that a deep rift has opened between Europe and the United States.
Merz was giving the opening address to the Munich Security Conference against a backdrop of rapidly worsening ties between Europe and the United States.
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio was among senior officials attending the event.
“Let me begin with the uncomfortable truth: A rift, a deep divide has opened between Europe and the United States,” Merz told the audience of global leaders, defence officials, and foreign ministers.
The German leader pointed to mounting tensions following U.S. president Donald Trump’s remarks to seize Greenland and his tariff measures.
Merz also referenced remarks made at the same conference a year earlier by U.S. Vice President JD Vance, who said Europe is suppressing free speech and other democratic rights. Merz acknowledged that Vance had been “right in his description” of Europe.
Shifting from German to English, Merz urged the United States and Europe to forge a renewed partnership. He said that in an era of great power rivalry, even Washington could not succeed alone.
Emphasising the importance of NATO, Merz said the alliance was not only Europe’s “competitive advantage,” but also America’s.
“So let’s repair and revive transatlantic trust together,” he concluded.
