Kallas urges Europe to assert autonomy at Munich conference

Monday 16 February 2026 - 15:50

By: Dakir Madiha

Kallas urges Europe to assert autonomy at Munich conference

The 62nd Munich Security Conference concluded on Sunday with European leaders delivering a unified message that the continent must assume greater responsibility for its own defense as transatlantic dynamics evolve. Over three days of discussions, senior officials outlined plans to raise military spending, deepen cooperation on nuclear deterrence and reduce reliance on Washington.

European Union foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas dismissed criticism from the United States suggesting that a so called decadent Europe is in decline. Speaking at the conference’s closing session, she set out three priorities: defending Europe starting with Ukraine, securing the EU’s neighborhood through enlargement, and building stronger global partnerships. She cautioned that Russia must not gain more at the negotiating table than it has achieved on the battlefield.

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz disclosed that he had initiated confidential talks with the French president on the future of European nuclear deterrence. His remarks pointed to the possibility of extending France’s nuclear umbrella across the continent at a time when European governments are reassessing their longstanding dependence on US security guarantees. Merz argued that America’s claim to global leadership is being challenged and called on Europe to overcome what he described as self inflicted immaturity in defense matters.

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer used the forum to advocate closer defense cooperation between the United Kingdom and the European Union. He described Europe as a sleeping giant whose fragmented industrial strategies and procurement systems have weakened its strategic weight relative to its economic strength. Starmer emphasized that the UK nuclear deterrent already contributes to NATO’s collective security and highlighted efforts to deepen nuclear collaboration with France.

The debate over nuclear policy gained further prominence amid broader questions about Europe’s strategic posture. Leaders acknowledged that strengthening defense integration would require coordinated industrial planning and more efficient military acquisitions across member states.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio adopted a more measured tone than senior American officials at last year’s conference, assuring participants that Washington does not intend to abandon the transatlantic alliance. His address, however, avoided direct references to Russia or NATO and instead called for a broader Western renewal after decades of what he characterized as flawed policy decisions.

Elbridge Colby, the US under secretary of defense for policy, signaled a shift in Washington’s stance on European defense spending. Speaking at a side event, he said the United States would take a pragmatic approach if European allies directed increased defense budgets toward their own domestic industries rather than purchasing American equipment. If countries commit 3.5 percent or even 5 percent of gross domestic product to defense, he said, it is understandable that a significant share of production would be nationalized. He added that the United States seeks partnerships rather than dependencies.

The conference underscored the urgency of recalibration as NATO allies work toward a target agreed at last year’s Hague summit to devote 5 percent of GDP to defense related spending by 2035. European officials left Munich signaling that greater strategic autonomy, closer nuclear coordination and sustained investment will be central to that effort.