The Guardian: Europe no longer views US as anchor of stability due to Trump's threats

The organisers of the Munich Security Conference (MSC) have said that US President Donald Trump's proposed "land grabs" shifted the perception of the US from being an "anchor of stability" to a "risk to be hedged against."

This observation is part of the pre-summit report, which examines the transition from a US-led, unipolar post-Cold War era to a multipolar world where no single ideological viewpoint dominates, Caliber.Az reports via foreign media.

The report will set the stage for this year’s conference. Since taking office, President Trump has floated the idea of acquiring territory for the US, including Greenland and Panama, and even suggested that Canada could become the 51st state. These actions signal a growing indication that the US no longer wishes to serve as the guardian of the liberal international order. However, it remains unclear which other nations are both willing and able to step in and fulfill the role of providing global public goods.

The authors of the report argue that a US retreat from global leadership extends beyond just matters of war and peace, with broader consequences for international relations and stability: “Without global leadership of the kind provided by the United States for the past several decades, it is hard to imagine the international community providing global public goods like freedom of navigation or tackling even some of the many grave threats confronting humanity.” The authors also note that the US president’s attempt to assert a new form of American dominance will likely be hindered by the growing trend of "multipolarisation." Their report includes survey data indicating that this trend is more likely to be embraced as a positive force in countries such as Brazil, India, South Africa, and China. 

The conference, set to begin on February 13, is regarded as the premier platform for discussions among global security policy leaders. It will feature the first meetings between a US delegation, led by Vice President JD Vance, and European political and military figures since President Trump’s inauguration. Vance will be joined by US Defence Secretary Peter Hegseth, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and US Special Envoy for Ukraine Keith Kellogg. They are expected to face questions regarding the future US leadership role and their proposed conditions for a ceasefire between Ukraine and Russia. 

Kellogg has denied reports suggesting he plans to present a finalized peace plan at the conference. European leaders will push Vance to take stronger actions to weaken Vladimir Putin before any negotiations and inquire whether the US – through NATO or independently – is ready to provide essential support for a potential European-led stabilization force inside Ukraine after a ceasefire. 

The conference coincides with Trump’s threat to impose unspecified "reciprocal tariffs" on the EU. The MSC report foresees a world where “a greater number of states are vying for influence,” implying that “the future order may be much messier.”

By Naila Huseynova