Thewesternbalkans.
The annual Munich Security Conference (MSC) is one of the year’s most important geopolitical events, where the leaders of Europe, USA and many other countries can focus on the future of the endangered transatlantic alliance and efforts to make Europe better place for living.
According to different media, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz had opened the conference and delivered a stark assessment of global politics, saying the rules-based order “no longer exists“, with the world entering an era of “great power politics” in which the US has possibly lost its leadership position. Chancellor Friedrich Merz criticized President Trump’s rapid reorientation of U.S. foreign policy.
Mr. Merz said Europe must do more to bolster its military strength, and must decrease its economic dependence on the United States. He pointed out that Germany had begun talks with France, a nuclear power, on establishment of nuclear deterrent for Europe.
Friedrich Merz dwelled on what he described as a vital need to keep working with Washington. Switching briefly from German to English, he said, “In the era of great power rivalry, even the United States will not be powerful enough to go it alone.”
French President Emmanuel Macron started with an appeal to Europeans to “be proud” and said Europe will have to define its security architecture autonomously.
In his speech E. Macron Insisted that Europe remains central to Global stability. President Emmanuel Macron, stressed European “fortitude” and also said that Europe needed to increase its geopolitical power to both work with the United States and confront Russia.
The leaders of France delivered sweeping criticisms of President Trump’s treatment of the trans-Atlantic alliance, Emmanuel Macron said. “Europe is rearming, but we must now go beyond” to become a unified major power, one that would be able to act accordingly not only on economics but also on security. “In this new geopolitical environment, Europe has to become a geopolitical power,” he said. “It’s ongoing, but we need to accelerate.”
Mr. Macron, who spoke in English, forcefully rejected American criticisms of Europe and disregard for the continent. “Europe has been vilified as an aging, slow, fragmented concept sidelined by history,” that allows uncontrolled immigration and muzzles political speech, the French leader said. None of that is accurate, he said, insisting, “Everyone should take their cue from us, instead of criticizing us or trying to divide us.”
Mr. Macron implicitly rebuked Mr. Trump for trying to negotiate a peace without involving European countries that have been crucial to arming Ukraine, will be deeply involved in guaranteeing its postwar security and have the most at stake in countering Russian aggression.
He said the consultations with Germany and other leaders were part of a broader discussion that included conventional deep strikes capabilities, which Europe does not possess unlike Russia, and the role of France’s nuclear deterrent.
“We have to reshuffle and reorganise our architecture of security in Europe. Because the past architecture of security was totally designed and framed during Cold War times. So it’s no longer adapted,” he said.
In her speech EU High Representative Kaya Kalas pointed out that „As president Macron said in Davos, Europe is sometimes too slow, for sure, and needs to be reformed, for sure, but “we absolutely know who we are and what we stand for”.
She set out three priorities of the EU foreign policy.
First, Europe’s defence. This starts in Ukraine and Europe knows that Russia’s endgame is not the Donbas.
“I’m working now with President von der Leyen on a new security strategy to address all dimensions of European security, from hard security and defence to economic security and preparedness. Because in today’s world, security is indivisible” Kaya Kallas said.
The second priority is stability in the European neighbourhood – East and South. This is where Europe has the most agency. Our priority here is enlargement, the antidote to Russian imperialism.
European enlargement is vital for securing democracy and overcoming Europe’s own imperial history. Today, enlargement is a geopolitical choice and we must say yes.
The EU third priority is international partnerships. Take trade for example. The European Union has built the largest free trade network in the world. Close to 80 countries are now covered by EU trade agreements.
The highest-ranking American official who attended the three-day conference was Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
The US State Secretary was very diplomatic in his speech: “Today I am here to make it clear that America is paving the way for a new century of prosperity and that once again we want to do it together with you, our dear allies and oldest friends” he said.
“We should be proud of what we have achieved together over the past century, but now we must face and embrace the opportunities of a new century – because yesterday is over, the future is inevitable, and our shared destiny awaits us” said Rubio.
Comments: Many analysts commented on the statements of European leaders and the U.S. Secretary of State, emphasizing preparations for war rather than measures for lasting peace and détente. From the perspective of the Western Balkan countries, perhaps the most significant was the statement by Kaja Kallas, who provided a geopolitical justification for the need to continue the EU’s enlargement. However, she also stated that the EU needs reform in order to manage its foreign and security policy more effectively, which would require changes to the EU’s founding Treaty. Considering the processes within the Union itself, this currently does not seem very realistic.
On the other hand after so many purely military initiatives coming from ones of the most important European leaders, for the Western Balkans countries is still actual the question – what kind of Europe they are going to join.
