Europeans push again at US over declare they face ‘civilizational erasure’ : NPR

[ad_1] <img src="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/7590x5060+0+0/resize/1100/quality/50/format/jpeg/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F03%2F5d%2F13595f374e85bd08862e614fa29d%2Fap26046297389567.jpg" data-template="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/7590x5060+0+0/resize/{width}/quality/{quality}/format/{format}/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F03%2F5d%2F13595f374e85bd08862e614fa29d%2Fap26046297389567.jpg" class="img" alt="European Union foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas speaks during the Munich Security Conference in Munich, Germany, Sunday, Feb. 15, 2026." fetchpriority="high"/> European Union overseas coverage chief Kaja Kallas speaks through the Munich Safety Convention in Munich, Germany, Sunday, Feb. 15, 2026. Michael Probst/AP cover caption

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Michael Probst/AP MUNICH — A prime European Union official on Sunday rejected the notion that Europe faces "civilizational erasure," pushing again at criticism of the continent by the Trump administration.

EU overseas coverage chief Kaja Kallas addressed the Munich Safety Convention a day after U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio supplied a considerably reassuring message to European allies. He struck a much less aggressive tone than Vice President JD Vance did in lecturing them on the identical gathering final 12 months however maintained a agency tone on Washington's intent to reshape the trans-Atlantic alliance and push its coverage priorities.

Kallas alluded to criticism within the U.S. nationwide safety technique launched in December, which asserted that financial stagnation in Europe "is eclipsed by the actual and extra stark prospect of civilizational erasure." It recommended that Europe is being enfeebled by its immigration insurance policies, declining delivery charges, "censorship of free speech and suppression of political opposition" and a "lack of nationwide identities and self-confidence."

"Opposite to what some could say, woke, decadent Europe shouldn't be dealing with civilizational erasure," Kallas informed the convention. "In actual fact, individuals nonetheless need to be a part of our membership and never simply fellow Europeans," she added, saying she was informed when visiting Canada final 12 months that many individuals there have an curiosity in becoming a member of the EU.

Kallas rejected what she referred to as "European-bashing."

"We're, you already know, pushing humanity ahead, making an attempt to defend human rights and all this, which is definitely bringing additionally prosperity for individuals. In order that's why it is very exhausting for me to imagine these accusations."

In his convention speech, Rubio mentioned that an finish to the trans-Atlantic period "is neither our purpose nor our want," including that "our dwelling could also be within the Western hemisphere, however we are going to at all times be a toddler of Europe."

He made clear that the Trump administration is sticking to its weapons on points corresponding to migration, commerce and local weather. And European officers who addressed the gathering made clear that they in flip will stand by their values, together with their method to free speech, local weather change and free commerce.

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer mentioned Saturday that Europe should defend "the colourful, free and numerous societies that we symbolize, exhibiting that individuals who look completely different to one another can dwell peacefully collectively, that this is not in opposition to the tenor of our occasions."

"Relatively, it's what makes us sturdy," he mentioned.

Kallas mentioned Rubio's speech despatched an essential message that America and Europe are and can stay intertwined.

"Additionally it is clear that we do not see eye to eye on all the problems and it will stay the case as nicely, however I feel we are able to work from there," she mentioned.