EU chief hits again at ‘European-bashing’ after Marco Rubio speech and says ‘woke Europe isn’t going through civilasational erasure’ | EUROtoday

The European Union’s international coverage chief has rejected the suggestion that Europe faces “civilisational erasure” after Marco Rubio mentioned America has little interest in being the “caretakers of the West’s managed decline”.

Kaja Kallas addressed the Munich Security Conference a day after Mr Rubio, the US Secretary of State, spoke in Germany.

Although he struck a much less aggressive tone than vp JD Vance did in lecturing European leaders final 12 months, Mr Rubio reiterated Washington’s intent to reshape the transatlantic alliance and push its coverage priorities.

“President [Donald] Trump demands seriousness and reciprocity from our friends here in Europe,” he instructed the convention earlier than saying that the US doesn’t need “weak” allies.

In her tackle on Sunday, Ms Kallas, the EU’s excessive consultant for international affairs and safety coverage, appeared to reply and alluded to criticism within the US nationwide safety technique launched in December, which mentioned financial stagnation in Europe “is eclipsed by the real and more stark prospect of civilisational erasure”.

It recommended Europe is being weakened by its immigration insurance policies, declining start charges, “censorship of free speech and suppression of political opposition”, and a “loss of national identities and self-confidence”.

“Contrary to what some may say, woke, decadent Europe is not facing civilisational erasure,” Ms Kallas mentioned as she hit again.

“In fact, people still want to join our club, and not just fellow Europeans,” she added, saying she was instructed when visiting Canada final 12 months that many individuals there have an curiosity in becoming a member of the EU.

Mr Rubio recommended the West has been complacent because the conclusion of the Cold War, saying its “end of history” strategy in assuming “every nation would now be a liberal democracy” has “cost us dearly”.

He known as on European allies to “fix” the established order.

“We in America have no interest in being polite and orderly caretakers of the West’s managed decline,” he mentioned. “We do not seek to separate, but to revitalise an old friendship and renew the greatest civilisation in human history.

“What we want is a reinvigorated alliance that recognises that what has ailed our societies is not just a set of bad policies but a malaise of hopelessness and complacency.”

Ms Kallas rejected what she known as “European-bashing”.

“We are, you know, pushing humanity forward, trying to defend human rights and all this, which is actually bringing also prosperity for people,” she mentioned.

“So that’s why it’s very hard for me to believe these accusations.”

In a wide-ranging speech, Mr Rubio mentioned an finish to the transatlantic period “is neither our goal nor our wish”, including that “our home may be in the Western hemisphere, but we will always be a child of Europe”.

But he made clear that the Trump administration is sticking to its weapons on points corresponding to migration, commerce and local weather.

Mr Rubio mentioned: “In a pursuit of a world without borders, we opened our doors to an unprecedented wave of mass migration that threatens the cohesion of our societies, the continuity of our culture, and the future of our people.

“We made these mistakes together, and now, together, we owe it to our people to face those facts and to move forward, to rebuild.”

European officers who addressed the gathering made clear that they in flip will stand by their values, together with their strategy to free speech, local weather change and free commerce.

Sir Keir Starmer mentioned on Saturday that Europe should defend “the vibrant, free and diverse societies that we represent, showing that people who look different to each other can live peacefully together, that this isn’t against the tenor of our times”.

“Rather, it is what makes us strong,” he mentioned.

Ms Kallas mentioned Mr Rubio’s speech despatched an necessary message that America and Europe are and can stay intertwined.

“It is also clear that we don’t see eye to eye on all the issues and this will remain the case as well, but I think we can work from there,” she mentioned.