politics
February 17, 2026
US and Europe drifting ‘far apart’
The US used the Munich Security Conference to show Europe that it has no plans to defend “the old order,” Politico reports
TL;DR
- The Munich Security Conference revealed a widening rift between the US and Europe.
- Washington signaled it will seek to reshape the global order regardless of European support.
- A former European official noted the US message: 'We don’t want weak allies, don’t defend the old order.'
- Pentagon policy chief Elbridge Colby stated the US shares interests but not values with Europe.
- European officials felt the US message was 'Join us, and if you don’t, we go alone.'
- Some European officials viewed Rubio's message as a necessary wake-up call.
- US President Trump has demanded increased NATO burden sharing and military spending.
- The Trump administration's National Security Strategy questioned the reliability of some EU allies and warned of 'civilizational erasure.'
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