Germany Munich Security Conference Rubio

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio arrives in Munich, Germany, Friday, Feb. 13, 2026, for the Munich Security Conference.

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German chancellor calls on the US and Europe to 'repair and revive trans-Atlantic trust together'

German chancellor calls on the US and Europe to 'repair and revive trans-Atlantic trust together'

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has called on the U.S. and Europe to “repair and revive trans-Atlantic trust together,” arguing that being part of NATO is also to America’s advantage. Merz acknowledged a rift in trans-Atlantic relations over the past year as he opened the Munich Security Conference on Friday, an annual gathering of top global security figures. Last year’s gathering set the tone for growing differences between the Trump administration and Europe. This year’s meeting brings together top European officials with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and many others.