Is the West in Decline — or Reinventing Itself?
This year’s gathering at the Munich Security Conference exposed a widening divide over what the West stands for — and whether it is in need of rescue.
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio delivered a stark warning, arguing that America has no intention of presiding over what he called the West’s “managed decline.” He urged European allies to confront what he sees as policy failures tied to climate and migration, saying Washington wants partners ready to fix the system, not defend the status quo.
At the same time, Rubio struck a conciliatory note, describing the United States as a “child of Europe” whose destiny remains intertwined with the continent. His tone was notably softer than last year’s sharp rebuke delivered by U.S. Vice-President JD Vance, but the underlying message was similar: the West, in his view, must course-correct.
That narrative did not go unchallenged. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said she felt reassured about transatlantic ties after Rubio’s speech, while EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas rejected the suggestion that Europe is decadent or in need of saving. The European Union, she argued, is not facing civilizational erasure.
Europe’s Role in Ukraine Talks
Ukraine’s war with Russia hovered over every discussion. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy criticized the fact that Europe has largely been sidelined in U.S.-brokered peace talks with Moscow. “Europe is practically not present at the table,” he said, calling it a serious mistake.
European countries are now Ukraine’s largest providers of financial and military aid and are expected to shoulder much of the burden for future security guarantees — albeit with American backing. Yet diplomatic efforts to appoint a unified European envoy have stalled.
French President Emmanuel Macron has attempted to reopen channels with Moscow, though with limited results. Lithuanian President Gitanas Nausėda bluntly suggested that such outreach may be futile if Russian President Vladimir Putin is unwilling to engage and Washington allows that dynamic to continue.
Zelenskyy warned that Moscow could attempt to divide Europe, even as he praised Macron for transparency in his diplomatic efforts.
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz framed the moment in broader historical terms, declaring that the post-World War II order no longer exists. The era of predictable, rules-based leadership under the United States, he argued, has given way to a return of hard-edged power politics. In this environment, Europe’s freedom cannot be taken for granted.
Nuclear Questions and Arctic Tensions
Security debates extended to nuclear deterrence. Macron revealed that France has opened a strategic dialogue with Germany and other European partners about how its nuclear doctrine might contribute to a broader European defense framework. The discussion reflects growing uncertainty about Washington’s long-term commitment to Europe’s security umbrella.
Not everyone is convinced. Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez warned against nuclear rearmament, calling deterrence an expensive and risky gamble that leaves no room for error.
Meanwhile, tensions over Greenland resurfaced. Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen said U.S. interest in the Arctic territory remains unchanged despite recent mediation efforts within NATO. Former President Donald Trump has previously floated the idea of asserting control over the island, prompting diplomatic strain. Frederiksen drew a clear line on territorial integrity but signaled openness to deeper cooperation with the United States. Greenland’s Prime Minister, Jens-Frederik Nielsen, described the pressure as unacceptable while reaffirming commitment to the alliance.
Von der Leyen also used the forum to call for revitalizing the EU’s mutual defense clause — Article 42(7) — arguing that Europe must turn treaty language into credible capability. As the bloc rolls out an €800 billion defense readiness plan, she emphasized that collective defense only works if backed by trust, speed, and real military strength.
Across three intense days in Munich, one theme became unmistakable: the West is not just confronting external threats — it is debating what it wants to be.
