Ahmed Kamel – Egypt Daily News
As world leaders gather in Bavaria for the annual Munich Security Conference, the mood is markedly more anxious than in years past. The international system, shaped in the aftermath of World War II, is under visible strain. Russia’s war in Ukraine grinds into its fifth year. Nuclear arms control frameworks are eroding. And widening rifts between Europe and the United States are raising fundamental questions about the durability of the transatlantic alliance.
Opening this year’s proceedings, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz delivered a pointed appeal for unity. Addressing American partners directly, he urged both sides to “repair and revive transatlantic trust together,” warning that in an era of great-power competition, no country can afford to stand alone.
“Dear friends,” Merz said in his keynote address, “in an age of major power rivalry, the United States will not be strong enough if it relies only on itself.” His remarks set the tone for a conference overshadowed by doubts about Washington’s long-term commitment to European security and by concerns over the future of multilateral cooperation.
The Munich Security Conference, widely regarded as the premier global forum for defense and foreign policy debate, has drawn more than 60 heads of state and government this year, along with around 100 foreign and defense ministers, a record level of participation, according to organizers. Yet behind the impressive numbers lies an atmosphere of unease.
Merz acknowledged what he called an “unsettling reality”: a deepening gap between Europe and the United States in recent years. He referenced comments made at last year’s conference by U.S. Vice President JD Vance, who accused European leaders of curbing free speech and ignoring segments of their electorates. “He was not wrong in his description,” Merz noted, signaling a willingness to engage candidly with American criticisms while defending core European values.
But the German chancellor also issued a warning. In a world shaped increasingly by power politics, he argued, freedom can no longer be taken for granted. “In the age of great powers, our freedom is no longer guaranteed; it is under threat,” he said, adding that preserving it requires resolve and political will. “Sacrifices will be necessary not someday, but now.”
His comments come as European nations accelerate efforts to boost defense spending in response to Russia’s continued invasion of Ukraine and amid signs of a reduced U.S. military footprint in Europe during the presidency of Donald Trump. Trump has repeatedly pressed European allies to shoulder a greater share of the security burden, questioning longstanding assumptions about automatic American backing.
The future of NATO is expected to dominate both public panels and closed-door meetings throughout the three-day gathering. The central question: Is the United States still unequivocally committed to Europe’s defense?
The conference unfolds against a backdrop of intensifying geopolitical turbulence. Organizers have framed this year’s discussions around what they describe as a global order “damaged by forces of disruption.” Topics on the agenda include the erosion of international norms, the fragmentation of the global system, nuclear deterrence following the expiration of the New START treaty, hybrid warfare, and the protracted conflict in Ukraine.
Trump’s recent warning that Iran could face military consequences if a new nuclear agreement is not reached has added another layer of uncertainty. Such rhetoric reinforces European concerns that Washington’s foreign policy direction may grow more confrontational, potentially complicating diplomatic coordination on multiple fronts.
Notably absent this year is Vice President Vance, whose combative speech last year stunned many attendees. Representing Washington instead is U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who is scheduled to address the conference on Saturday morning. His remarks are expected to clarify or further complicate, perceptions of America’s strategic priorities.
Compounding tensions, the conference’s annual report paints a stark picture of the international landscape. It describes Trump as a “disruptor” whose “wrecking-ball” approach risks dismantling elements of the post-1945 order. While some supporters argue that this strategy forces long-overdue reforms and burden-sharing, critics warn it could accelerate global instability.
For Europe, the stakes are existential. The war in Ukraine continues to test the continent’s resilience and unity. Russia’s persistent aggression has driven European capitals to rethink defense policy, invest in military capabilities, and reduce dependencies particularly in energy and security.
Yet even as Europe seeks greater strategic autonomy, leaders like Merz insist that transatlantic cooperation remains indispensable. NATO membership, he stressed, serves not only European interests but American ones as well. In a world of intensifying rivalry among major powers, he argued, alliances are a force multiplier, not a liability.
As the Munich conference proceeds, it does so under the long shadow of shifting power dynamics and uncertain alliances. Whether this year’s gathering marks the beginning of a renewed transatlantic compact or a further widening of the divide may depend less on speeches and more on the policy choices that follow. For now, the message from Berlin is clear: the Atlantic partnership must be repaired and urgently, if the West is to navigate an increasingly fractured world order.
