EU's foreign policy chief, Kaja Kallas, has vehemently refuted the US's accusations of Europe's 'civilisational erasure', branding it as 'fashionable euro-bashing'. Kallas, a vocal critic of Russia, challenged the US's claims, emphasizing that Europe remains a beacon of values and a desirable destination for many. She pointed out the irony of the US criticizing media freedom in Europe, given the stark contrast between Estonia's top ranking in press freedom and the US's 58th place. Kallas also addressed the US's demand for European cooperation in mass migration, free trade, and defense spending, suggesting that such demands were aimed at a domestic audience. The three-day Munich Security Conference, attended by world leaders, highlighted the challenges facing the transatlantic alliance, with discussions dominated by the health of NATO and the Ukraine peace talks. Kallas' remarks capped a tense gathering, where the US Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, had called for a new partnership, but with conditions that some may view as demanding. Rubio's offer of a 'child of Europe' America, while emotional, was conditional and sparked debate. The conference also saw Rubio skirt around the involvement of US intelligence agencies in a report on the poisoning of Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny, which was prepared by European agencies. The US's lack of participation in the statement, despite agreeing with the findings, was noted by Keir Starmer, who emphasized the strength of intelligence cooperation between the UK and the US.
