Merz warns: Rules-based order no longer exists at Munich Security Conference
Merz warns: Rules-based order no longer exists at Munich Security Conference
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz tells Munich Security Conference attendees that the post-war rules-based order is fading, warning of a new, contested era.
At the Munich Security Conference, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz delivered a stark warning that the rules-based world order no longer exists in its former form. He told fellow leaders that our freedom is not guaranteed in an era of big-power competition and urged Europeans to be prepared to make sacrifices. A deep divide has opened between Europe and the United States, Merz said, underscoring the uneasy lines in transatlantic relations.
The backdrop to his remarks includes global tensions: the Russia-Ukraine conflict remains a focal point, tensions with China have intensified, and the possibility of a renewed Iran-US deal looms in the mix. He noted that US commitments to NATO are being questioned and suggested that blind faith in alliance assurances is no longer sufficient. The conference, expected to draw around 50 world leaders, is widely seen as a testbed for how Europe plans to respond to a reshaped security order.
Merz's comments dovetail with remarks from US officials elsewhere, including Marco Rubio, who spoke of a new era in geopolitics during the proceedings. The former German chancellor’s blunt assessment falls into a broader debate about strategic autonomy, defense spending, and how democracies can navigate a more multipolar world without sacrificing unity with traditional partners.
In calling for resilience, Merz argued that democracies must reinforce their alliances, bolster defense and energy security, and avoid overreliance on any single power. He stressed that the old order may have been imperfect, but it provided a framework for cooperation; now it requires adaptation, not retreat. The discussions at Munich will shape how Europe aligns with its allies in Washington while charting a path through a volatile geopolitical landscape.
