He stressed that Europe and the United States “belong together,” reaffirmed NATO’s importance, and framed Washington’s demands as a call for partnership rather than retrenchment. Build the Future TogetherThe United States can go it alone if necessary, but the path to true success requires working together. Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni endorsed stronger European responsibility within NATO while emphasising that “autonomy does not mean separation” from the United States. The United States is making clear that its commitment will increasingly depend on European capability and resolve. In Munich, European leaders were also talking about “de-risking” from the United States, citing President Trump’s unpredictability.” Available at https://www.nytimes.com/2026/02/14/world/europe/europe-munich-rubio-russia.html[9] Lindberg, Leon N., et Scheingold, Stuart A., Europe’s Would Be Polity.

Source: New York Times February 17, 2026 03:32 UTC