European leaders struck a defiant tone at the 2026 Munich Security Conference this week, calling for renewed unity and strategic independence in response to renewed U.S. pressure under President Donald Trump's 'America First' doctrine. The three-day gathering, attended by over 60 global representatives, revealed deepening transatlantic fissures as Germany's Chancellor Friedrich Merz and France's President Emmanuel Macron outlined competing visions for Europe's geopolitical future.
Merz urged collaborative reform of NATO during his keynote address, stating: 'Let's repair and revive transatlantic trust together.' His remarks came as European NATO members accelerate defense spending hikes to meet Trump's demands for greater burden-sharing. The German leader notably aligned with U.S. Vice President JD Vance's 2025 critique of transatlantic divisions while rejecting protectionist trade policies linked to the Trump administration.
Macron delivered a robust defense of European sovereignty, declaring the continent must evolve into a 'geopolitical power' capable of shaping global norms. 'Europe is a radically original political construction… that institutionalized peace through economic interdependence,' he told attendees, countering perceptions of the bloc as fragmented or declining.
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer is expected to amplify these themes in his upcoming speech, framing European security autonomy as complementary to—rather than replacing—U.S. partnerships. The conference unfolds against heightened tensions following Trump's recent criticisms of European defense capabilities and controversial 2025 remarks about Greenland's status.
Analysts note this year's discussions reflect Europe's balancing act: maintaining NATO cohesion while addressing calls for self-reliance in an era of renewed great-power competition. As Merz cautioned, 'Even the United States will not be powerful enough to go it alone.'
