U. S. and Europe Talk About Friendship at Munich

The U. S. Secretary of State spoke in Munich, calling America a “child of Europe” to show that the two sides still care about each other. He hoped to calm worries in Europe over war, trade and changing global rules. The speech was brief and avoided talking about Russia, which made some people wonder if the U. S. would change its stance. European leaders listened closely. One top European official said she felt reassured, but others were more cautious. A former Lithuanian foreign minister noted that most Europeans are focused on security, not cultural or migration debates. He said the U. S. message was similar to last year’s but gentler.The conference has been tense because of disagreements with the former U. S. president about tariffs, Greenland and other issues. After Rubio’s remarks, a Chinese foreign minister warned the U. S. not to rush away from China and said some U. S. voices were hurting that relationship. German leaders pushed for a stronger Europe to stand up to global powers, while the British prime minister talked about building military strength and deeper ties with the European market. He said the UK must be ready to defend itself and work closely with Europe. Overall, the meeting showed that U. S. officials still want to keep a close bond with European allies, even as they face new challenges.