German chancellor's call to repair transatlantic trust at Munich
France 24 Europe
by FRANCE24February 13, 2026
Friedrich Merz urged the United States and Europe to rebuild trust as global tensions grow, arguing that neither side can face today’s challenges alone. Speaking at the Munich Security Conference, alongside Marco Rubio, he called for a renewed transatlantic partnership after a year of strained relations. Those tensions were fuelled by moves from Donald Trump, including tariff threats linked to Greenland. Merz stressed that cooperation through NATO remains essential as great-power rivalry intensifies. FRANCE 24's Nick Holdsworth has the latest from Munich.
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Originally published on France 24 Europe on 2/13/2026