Munich (Germany) The United States attempted to reduce tensions in the relationship between Europe and America, assuring European leaders that the country does not intend to distance itself from Europe, but rather to revive a friendship. It also emphasised that this must be carried out according to the terms and vision of the new world order proposed by President Donald Trump. «It is important to make it clear that this is neither what we seek nor desire. For us Americans, although our home is in the Western Hemisphere, we will always be descendants of Europe,» stated US Secretary of State Marco Rubio during the Munich Security Conference. After months of disagreements due to threats of tariffs and Trump’s interest in the Danish autonomous island of Greenland, his statements were met with applause. «We do not intend to distance ourselves from Europe, but to rekindle a friendship and renew the greatest civilisation in the history of humanity,» Rubio asserted in a speech that European leaders awaited, fearful of a repeat of the criticisms of Europe made last year in the same place by US Vice President JD Vance, which had anticipated a shift in the Trump Administration’s stance towards the Old Continent. Vance argued that the danger to Europe was not Russia or China, but rather originated from within. He critiqued the loss of «some of its values» and highlighted what he perceived as a restriction on freedom of expression, referencing the blockages and bans on «alternative voices,» including the far-right and left-wing populists.
The US extends a hand to Europe, but with a «revitalisation» of ties under its terms.
