He stressed that even America is not strong enough to fight alone in an increasingly difficult world.
‘The MAGA movement’s culture war is not ours’
Merz referenced a speech by US Vice President JD Vance during last year’s MSC, where Vance scolded Europeans over the state of free speech on the continent and migration.
“There has been a rift between Europe and the United States. Vice President J.D. Vance said this openly in Munich a year ago,” Merz said.
“He was right. The culture war of the MAGA movement is not ours,” Merz said, referring to U.S. President Donald Trump’s “Make America Great Again” slogan. “With us, freedom of speech ends when that speech goes against human dignity and the Constitution. We believe not in tariffs and protectionism, but in free trade.”
The Trump administration in December imposed visa entry bans on five prominent European figures over allegations that they were “censoring” Americans online. Trump also announced 20% tariffs on EU goods in his second term unless the two sides reach a trade framework agreement by the end of the year.
Trump’s push for a US takeover of Greenland, a territory of NATO member Denmark, has also raised concerns in Europe. Merz said Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen “knows she can count on European solidarity. There are no limits on that.”
America is not powerful enough to fight alone in the era of ‘great power rivalry’
Merz said the old international rules-based order was being destroyed.
“This order, however imperfect even at its best, no longer exists in that form,” Merz said, speaking of a dangerous new era of “great power politics” where freedom is “under threat.”
Merz’s comments come as Russia’s invasion of Ukraine will soon enter its fifth year. China is also becoming more aggressive toward the self-ruled island of Taiwan, which Beijing considers its territory.
“Becoming part of NATO is not only a competitive advantage for Europe,” Merz said. “It is also the competitive advantage of the United States. So let’s work together to repair and revive trans-Atlantic trust.”
The German Chancellor said, “In the era of great power rivalry, even the United States will not be powerful enough to fight alone.”
Marz meets Rubio at MSC event
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio is leading a group of Trump administration officials at the Munich security conference. Rubio is often seen as more diplomatic and less hawkish toward Europe than J.D. Vance.
Merz and German Foreign Minister Wadefull met with Rubio on the first day of the MSC.
“The United States and Germany are close friends and steadfast partners,” Wadefull said in a post on X. Today’s meeting with Secretary Rubio and the Chancellor reaffirmed our strong trans-Atlantic relationship based on our shared interests and our agreement on many key issues – including a stronger NATO and a stronger Europe.
The MSC also features Democrats like California Governor Gavin Newsom, New York Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Arizona Senator Ruben Gallego, who could pressure the Europeans to take a tougher stance toward the Trump administration.
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, French President Emmanuel Macron, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky will also attend this year’s MSC.
Edited by: Louis Olofse
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