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German Chancellor Warns of Fragile Alliances and Calls for a Sovereign Europe in a Shifting Geopolitical Era
At the 2025 Munich Security Conference, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz delivered a stark message: the old world order is gone, and the Atlantic alliance can no longer be taken for granted. Speaking at the annual gathering of global leaders in Munich, Merz warned that Europe must adapt to a new era of geopolitical rivalry where freedom itself is increasingly at risk.
“Europe has returned from a vacation from history,” Merz declared, describing a continent that can no longer afford complacency. For years, he noted, tensions and conflicts have intensified worldwide. “This order, imperfect as it may have been even at its best, no longer exists,” he said, signalling a decisive break with the assumptions that shaped post-Cold War Europe.
A Strained Transatlantic Relationship
Merz acknowledged openly that a gap has emerged between Europe and the United States. Referring to remarks made a year earlier in Munich by U.S. Vice President J. D. Vance, Merz admitted that Vance had been right to highlight growing divergences. “The cultural struggle of the MAGA movement is not ours,” the German leader stated, drawing a clear line between European and American political trajectories.
He emphasized that Europe’s understanding of free speech differs fundamentally from certain U.S. interpretations. In Europe, he argued, freedom of expression ends where human dignity and constitutional principles are attacked. He also rejected protectionism and tariffs, reaffirming Europe’s commitment to free trade, climate agreements, and multilateral institutions such as the World Health Organization.
Yet despite these differences, Merz stressed that repairing and revitalizing transatlantic trust remains essential. “Even the United States will not be strong enough to act alone in an era of great-power rivalry,” he said. NATO, he argued, is not only a competitive advantage for Europe but also for America. “Autocracies may have followers; democracies have partners and allies.”
Europe’s Strategic Awakening
A central theme of Merz’s speech was the need for a sovereign and strategically capable Europe. He revealed that he had initiated confidential discussions with French President Emmanuel Macron on the future of European nuclear deterrence. With the United States gradually reducing its direct defense engagement on the continent, the possibility of France extending its nuclear deterrent to cover Europe is being quietly examined. France, alongside the United Kingdom, remains the only EU country possessing nuclear weapons.
Merz made clear that Germany would never again act alone in matters of power politics. “Leadership based on partnership, yes; hegemonic fantasies, no,” he said, invoking the lessons of German history. The answer to the current geopolitical shift, he argued, lies in strengthening Europe as a unified actor capable of defending its freedom, security, and competitiveness.
A sovereign Europe, in Merz’s view, must become a “true global player” with its own security strategy—not as a replacement for NATO, but as a strong pillar within it. The objective is to reinforce the alliance rather than undermine it, ensuring that Europe contributes more robustly to collective defence.
The War in Ukraine and the Russian Threat
The war in Ukraine loomed large over the conference discussions. NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte pushed back against narratives portraying Russia as unstoppable. “Instead of seeing the Russians as a mighty bear, we must understand that they are moving through Ukraine at the speed of a garden snail,” he said, citing heavy Russian losses—35,000 deaths in December and 30,000 in January alone.
Rutte warned against falling into the trap of Russian propaganda, arguing that while the conflict remains brutal and costly, Moscow is paying a staggering price. The message was clear: European unity and sustained support for Ukraine remain vital.
Greenland, Rearmament, and Global Realignment
Beyond Ukraine, leaders debated issues ranging from Greenland’s strategic importance to the evolution of the transatlantic alliance and the acceleration of European rearmament. The broader context is a world increasingly defined by great-power competition, technological rivalry, and shifting alliances.
The U.S. delegation, led this year by Secretary of State Marco Rubio, signalled a nuanced approach. In contrast to last year’s sharp criticism of Europe, Washington’s tone appeared more measured. Rubio acknowledged that the world has entered a new geopolitical era requiring all parties to reassess their roles.
Prominent European leaders attended the summit, including Macron, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk, and Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen. Their presence underscored the urgency of redefining Europe’s place in a changing international system.
Freedom at Stake
For Merz, the stakes could not be higher. “In an era of great powers, freedom is not guaranteed—it is in danger,” he warned. Europe’s task, he concluded, is to unite and strengthen itself, not in isolation but in partnership.
The old certainties may be gone, but in Munich, one message resonated clearly: Europe must rediscover its strategic purpose—or risk being shaped by forces beyond its control.
Alessandro Fiorentino