Is the West in Decline — or Reinventing Itself?
This year’s gathering at the Munich Security Conference exposed a widening divide in how leaders on both sides of the Atlantic see the future of the West. Senior officials from the United States, Ukraine and across Europe arrived with a shared agenda — security and the war in Ukraine — but left with clear differences over identity, values and responsibility.
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio argued that the West is drifting into decline and called on European allies to help reverse what he described as a dangerous trajectory. He warned that Washington has no interest in simply managing a slow deterioration of Western influence. While his tone was measured, his message was blunt: policy failures, particularly on climate and migration, have weakened the West by choice.
Rubio emphasized that America’s destiny remains tied to Europe, calling the United States a “child of Europe.” His remarks reassured some, including European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, who said she felt encouraged about transatlantic ties after his speech.
But the EU’s top diplomat, Kaja Kallas, firmly rejected the idea that Europe needs rescuing. Dismissing portrayals of a “woke” or fading continent, she pushed back against the narrative of civilisational decline, insisting Europe remains resilient and capable of shaping its own future.
Ukraine Demands a European Seat at the Table
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy used the conference to criticize Europe’s limited role in peace negotiations with Russia. He called it a “big mistake” that European leaders are largely absent from U.S.-brokered talks, even though European countries now provide the bulk of military and financial support to Kyiv.
Zelenskyy warned that sidelining Europe risks weakening the continent’s unity and emboldening Moscow. He praised Emmanuel Macron for maintaining open communication with Russia, though recent diplomatic outreach has produced little progress. Lithuanian President Gitanas Nausėda added that efforts may be futile if the Kremlin refuses meaningful engagement.
Macron also told the conference that Europe must rethink its entire security architecture in the face of an aggressive Russia, signaling that the continent may need to assume greater responsibility for its own defence.
A Shifting World Order and Europe’s Defence Debate
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz offered one of the starkest assessments, declaring that the post–World War II order no longer exists. According to Merz, an era of “big power politics” has returned, forcing Europe to defend its freedom with greater resolve.
That uncertainty has reignited debate over nuclear deterrence. Macron revealed that France has opened strategic discussions with Germany about how its nuclear doctrine could contribute to broader European security. The move reflects growing doubts about long-term U.S. commitments, particularly after former President Donald Trump questioned NATO obligations and threatened action over Greenland.
Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen said tensions over Greenland have not fully subsided, reaffirming Denmark’s territorial “red line” while remaining open to expanded cooperation with Washington. Greenland’s Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen described recent diplomatic steps as a start but called earlier pressure on the island unacceptable.
Meanwhile, von der Leyen urged the European Union to give real substance to its mutual defence clause under Article 42(7), arguing that Europe must build credible capabilities if it wants security guarantees to carry weight. She also called for faster decision-making on defence and closer partnerships with countries such as the United Kingdom.
Taken together, the speeches in Munich revealed a West grappling with its identity — divided over whether it is in decline or simply evolving, and increasingly aware that the geopolitical ground beneath it has shifted.
