US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has spoken of a defining moment and a 'new era' as he travels to Europe for a major speech to the Munich Security Conference.
Rubio will lead the US delegation at the first major global event since former President Donald Trump threatened Danish sovereignty with a pledge to annex Greenland.
French President Emmanuel Macron has insisted Europe must prepare for independence from the US, while NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte emphasized that transatlantic bonds remain close and important.
The war in Ukraine, tensions with China, and a potential nuclear deal between Iran and the US are also on the agenda as the security conference gets under way.
The world is changing very fast right in front of us, Rubio told reporters, responding to whether his message to Europeans would be more conciliatory than a year ago. We live in a new era in geopolitics, and it's going to require all of us to sort of re-examine what that looks like and what our role is going to be.
At last year's conference, US Vice-President JD Vance criticized Europe, especially the UK, prompting a year of unprecedented transatlantic tension.
Some 50 world leaders are set to attend the conference, which will discuss European defense and the future of the transatlantic relationship amidst growing questions about US commitments to NATO.
Tensions surged recently as Trump repeatedly highlighted Greenland's significance to US national security, alleging it was 'covered with Russian and Chinese ships.'
Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen plans to meet with Rubio to discuss US threats that have strained trust with key allies.
In a surprising move, eight former US ambassadors to NATO and eight former American supreme commanders in Europe released an open letter urging sustained US support for the Western alliance.
Rubio is expected to take a less abrasive tone compared to Vance's past address, emphasizing the need for Europe to understand future US intentions.
As the conference begins, German officials stress the importance of defining what unites NATO and reiterating the significance of the US-EU relationship.
With President Macron set to address the conference, the focus will remain on ensuring that the principles of the international order are upheld, amid increasing uncertainties about America's role in global politics.
