Europe bashing: EU's top diplomat rejects US talk of 'civilisational erasure'
EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas pushed back against what she described as "European bashing" in a speech at the Munich Security Conference on Sunday. Kallas welcomed the message of unity delivered by US Secretary of State Marco Rubio at the annual gathering but dismissed the Trump administration's talk of Europe's "civilisational erasure".
Issued on 16/02/2026 -
By: FRANCE 24
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Photo mashup of US Secretary of State Marco Rubio at the G7 in Canada on November 12, 2025, and EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas at the Munich Security Conference on February 15, 2026. © Mandel Ngan, AP / Michael Probst, AP
EU top diplomat Kaja Kallas pushed back on Sunday against Europe "bashing" by the United States.
"Contrary to what some may say, 'woke, decadent Europe' is not facing civilisational erasure," Kallas said on the last day of the Munich Security Conference.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Saturday reassured allies by saying Washington and Europe "belong together" – but insisted the continent must defend against mass immigration to protect its "civilisation".
"The message that we heard is that America and Europe are intertwined, have been in the past and will be in the future. I think this is important," Kallas said.
But she added: "It is also clear that we don't see eye to eye on all the issues, and this will remain the case."
Officials in the Trump era have repeatedly extended their own heightened fears of immigration to Europe, often borrowing language from "replacement theory", the brainchild of a French novelist that has become a rallying cry for the global far right.
In a National Security Strategy document published on December 5, the US administration warned against European "migration policies that are transforming the continent and creating strife". "Should present trends continue, the continent will be unrecognizable in 20 years or less," the document predicted.
Europeans "were shocked to read that they were engaged in 'civilisational erasure'," French daily Le Monde wrote at the time.
The US document went on to warn that "censorship of free speech and suppression of political opposition" was taking place in Europe – despite European nations occupying all top 15 spots on the 2025 global Press Freedom Index from Reporters Without Borders while the US fell to a historic low at 57th place.
EU top diplomat Kaja Kallas pushed back on Sunday against Europe "bashing" by the United States.
"Contrary to what some may say, 'woke, decadent Europe' is not facing civilisational erasure," Kallas said on the last day of the Munich Security Conference.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Saturday reassured allies by saying Washington and Europe "belong together" – but insisted the continent must defend against mass immigration to protect its "civilisation".
"The message that we heard is that America and Europe are intertwined, have been in the past and will be in the future. I think this is important," Kallas said.
But she added: "It is also clear that we don't see eye to eye on all the issues, and this will remain the case."
Officials in the Trump era have repeatedly extended their own heightened fears of immigration to Europe, often borrowing language from "replacement theory", the brainchild of a French novelist that has become a rallying cry for the global far right.
In a National Security Strategy document published on December 5, the US administration warned against European "migration policies that are transforming the continent and creating strife". "Should present trends continue, the continent will be unrecognizable in 20 years or less," the document predicted.
Europeans "were shocked to read that they were engaged in 'civilisational erasure'," French daily Le Monde wrote at the time.
The US document went on to warn that "censorship of free speech and suppression of political opposition" was taking place in Europe – despite European nations occupying all top 15 spots on the 2025 global Press Freedom Index from Reporters Without Borders while the US fell to a historic low at 57th place.
Russia is 'broken'
Kallas went on to say that Russia must be forced to make concessions in talks to end the Ukraine war.
"Let's be clear-eyed about Russia. Russia is no superpower," she said, saying the country was "broken".
"The greatest threat Russia presents right now is that it gains more at the negotiation table than it has achieved on the battlefield."
The annual security gathering in Munich has seen European officials insist the continent must take the lead on its defense in the face of an aggressive Russia and doubts over the reliability of the United States as President Donald Trump upends ties.
"There is an urgent need to reclaim European agency," Kallas said.
She said European defense "starts in Ukraine" and will depend on how the war ends. The top diplomat called for the size of Russia's military to be capped while adding that Moscow must pay for the damage it has caused and must be held accountable for war crimes.
France's Minister for European Affairs Benjamin Haddad said there was no time to wait in increasing European independence, saying it should pay less attention to what US officials say and focus on bolstering its capabilities.
"I think the worst lesson we could draw from this weekend is to say, well, I can cling to some love words that I heard in part of his speech and push the snooze button," Haddad said of Rubio's address.
Instead, he said Europeans should "focus on what we can control, focus on our rearmament, on the support for Ukraine and the threat that Russia poses to all of our democracies".
(FRANCE 24 with AFP)
Kallas went on to say that Russia must be forced to make concessions in talks to end the Ukraine war.
"Let's be clear-eyed about Russia. Russia is no superpower," she said, saying the country was "broken".
"The greatest threat Russia presents right now is that it gains more at the negotiation table than it has achieved on the battlefield."
The annual security gathering in Munich has seen European officials insist the continent must take the lead on its defense in the face of an aggressive Russia and doubts over the reliability of the United States as President Donald Trump upends ties.
"There is an urgent need to reclaim European agency," Kallas said.
She said European defense "starts in Ukraine" and will depend on how the war ends. The top diplomat called for the size of Russia's military to be capped while adding that Moscow must pay for the damage it has caused and must be held accountable for war crimes.
France's Minister for European Affairs Benjamin Haddad said there was no time to wait in increasing European independence, saying it should pay less attention to what US officials say and focus on bolstering its capabilities.
"I think the worst lesson we could draw from this weekend is to say, well, I can cling to some love words that I heard in part of his speech and push the snooze button," Haddad said of Rubio's address.
Instead, he said Europeans should "focus on what we can control, focus on our rearmament, on the support for Ukraine and the threat that Russia poses to all of our democracies".
(FRANCE 24 with AFP)
The Munich hangover: Security fest or defence insecurities exposed?
Issued on: 16/02/2026 -
Play (42:45 min)
In the wake of the Munich Security Conference, we're asking: what happens now? With Russia's war on Ukraine still raging, do the grand words of Munich mean anything to those struggling to feed themselves, stay warm and survive under Vladimir Putin's ongoing missile and drone attacks
On European security, tensions are rising. Germany is pressing France to increase its defence spending, with Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul essentially telling Emmanuel Macron to put his money where his mouth is. But with France facing a massive public debt crisis, finding the 5 percent of GDP required for NATO commitments is far from simple.
Meanwhile, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio is visiting Budapest, delivering a message of support from President Donald Trump to his ally Viktor Orbán – Europe's most outspoken admirer of Putin. Rubio's words at Munich suggested conciliation, but standing side by side with Orbán raises questions: is the gap between the US and the EU widening, just when unity is needed most for Ukraine?
Produced by Charles Wente, Aline Bottin, Guillaume Gougeon and Ilayda Habip
OUR GUESTS
Hélène CONWAY-MOURETFrench senator, Socialist Party
James J. Townsend JrFormer US Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense
Ondrej DITRYCHSenior Analyst for Russia and Eastern Neighbourhood, EUISS
Grégoire ROOSDirector of the Europe, Russia and Eurasia Programmes, Chatham House
Ondrej DITRYCHSenior Analyst for Russia and Eastern Neighbourhood, EUISS
Grégoire ROOSDirector of the Europe, Russia and Eurasia Programmes, Chatham House
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