“Europe is neither decadent, nor ‘woke’, nor a threatened civilization,” in the words of the head of European diplomacy, Kaja Kallawho criticized the White House’s ‘fashion’ of criticizing or denigrating the community bloc. “The kick in the ass we received from President (Donald) Trump has brought us closer to the Europeans and made us more responsible,” said the president of the European Central Bank (ECB), Christine Lagarde.
With these pronouncements from the high representative of EU Foreign Policy, on the one hand, and the head of the monetary policy of the euro zone, on the other, a Munich Security Conference (MSC) dominated by the will for European emancipation with respect to its transatlantic ally. The United States, represented by its Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, did not dedicate itself to trying to humiliate Europe – as its vice president, JD Vance, did a year before – but instead called for relaunching those relations. He made it clear, however, that he aspires for Europe to stick to Trump’s course, whether in immigration, social or climate policy, at a time when, according to Washington, Western civilization and its Christian values are threatened.
Discomfort before Rubio
“When I hear certain criticisms against Europe, which apparently is fashionable, I wonder what the alternative is and why so many want to join us,” argued Kallas, on the closing day of the MSC. The list of those hoping to join “is long,” he added, referring not only to Eastern European countries, such as Moldova or Ukrainebut even to Canada. “40% of Canadians are interested in joining the EU,” he said.
Kallas broke down, although without citing him, some of the arguments offered the previous day by Rubio. “We don’t need to be taught lessons“, he said, citing as an example his country, Estonia, which occupies second place in the indexes of press freedom, while the United States is at 57. Kallas had been seen uncomfortable in the room of the Bayerischer Hof, the Munich hotel that hosts the MSC, at the end of Rubio’s speech. Most of the attendees, like the chancellor Friedrich Merzgreeted the Secretary of State’s speech with standing ovations. It was mostly an expression of relief, because conciliatory tone employed by Rubio. But the content of the speech continues to reflect some very deep cracks in transatlantic relations. The hope of many European leaders lies in figures such as the governor of California, Do Newsonpresent at the MSC along with a large representation of Democratic or Republican parliamentarians critical of Trump.
“Europe grows and strengthens in times of crisis,” said Lagarde almost at the close of the MCS. There he released his phrase about the “kicking in the ass” that Trump has given, with his hostile turn towards Europe. And he argued that this shock had had positive effects. The resulting is a cohesion between European partnerswhich has been reflected in support for Denmark against Trump’s annexationist goals in Greenland or in the search for defensive emancipation with respect to the United States.
Rubio, to meet with the Trumpist Orbán
Rubio’s visit to Munich softened the damage to the transatlantic relationship. Trump himself had already sufficiently defused the conflict with Denmark, a NATO partner. It was in Davos, when he ruled out the use of military force to achieve his objectives on the Arctic island and backed down the threat of tariffs against allies that militarily supported the Danish partner.
But these maneuvers to defuse the relationship between allies do not hide who are the true political friends to whom Trump and his team provide assistance, including on an electoral scale. Rubio left Munich heading to Slovakiato meet with the country’s prime minister, the populist Robert Fico. From there he will continue his trip to Budapest, where on Monday he will be received by the leader ultranationalist Víktor Orbán, Trump’s greatest ally among EU members.
The visit comes at a time of weakness for Orbán. A defeat for the Hungarian prime minister is predicted in the parliamentary elections on April 12. The polls suggest that Fidesz, Orbán’s party, will lose those elections, after 16 years of governing with an absolute majority. Your rival is Péter Hungarianformer co-religionist of Orbán and now leader of Tisza, whom polls place at 48% of the votes, ten above those predicted for Fidesz.
Orbán assures that the promoters of Magyar are the president of the European Commission, Ursula on der Leyenthe leader of the European People’s Party, Manfred Weberand, by extension, Germany, the country of both politicians. Magyar attended the MSC in Munich as a guest, where he met with several leaders, including Chancellor Friedrich Merz.
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