politics
February 17, 2026
Deaf spiral: Highlights and low-points from the Munich Security Conference
The US is reshaping the world as the Europeans insist on defending the ‘rules-based international order’
TL;DR
- The Munich Security Conference exposed a significant rift between the US and EU regarding the international order.
- US Secretary of State Marco Rubio advocated for a new era of great power competition, unconstrained by previous norms.
- European leaders, including Kaja Kallas, Friedrich Merz, and Emmanuel Macron, discussed remilitarization, strengthening military capabilities, and a potential joint nuclear doctrine.
- Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky criticized Russian imperialism and clashed with Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban over Hungary's stance on the conflict.
- International observers from outside Europe suggested that the perceived breakdown of the 'rules-based international order' had been evident for years, indicating a Eurocentric perspective in the conference's discussions.
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