Global leaders traded sharp warnings and competing visions for the international order at the Munich Security Conference, as Europe confronts mounting security challenges and deepening geopolitical rivalries.

EU Working on New Security Strategy

The European Union’s foreign policy chief, Kaja Kallas, said she is preparing a new European security strategy aimed at addressing “all dimensions of European security” in what she described as a more hostile geopolitical era.

Kallas said the strategy would seek to strengthen Europe’s defense posture, resilience, and partnerships, as the continent faces continued instability stemming from Russia’s war in Ukraine and broader global tensions.

Zelenskyy: Putin a ‘Slave to War’

Volodymyr Zelenskyy used his address to sharply criticize Russian President Vladimir Putin, calling him a “slave to war” and urging Western allies to maintain military and financial support for Kyiv.

Zelenskyy warned that any wavering in support would embolden Moscow and undermine European security as a whole, framing Ukraine’s defense as central to the continent’s future stability.

Denmark: Trump ‘Serious’ About Greenland

Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen said former US President Donald Trump remains “very serious” about his past proposal to acquire Greenland, an autonomous territory within the Kingdom of Denmark.

Frederiksen reiterated that Greenland is not for sale, but acknowledged that Arctic security and strategic competition are increasingly central to transatlantic discussions.

Rubio Stresses Cultural Ties

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio emphasized shared Christian heritage and cultural bonds between the United States and Europe, framing the transatlantic alliance as rooted not only in strategic interests but also in common values.

Rubio underscored Washington’s commitment to NATO and European security while calling for renewed unity in confronting global threats.

China Defends UN, Criticizes ‘Law of the Jungle’

China’s top diplomat, Wang Yi, defended the role of the United Nations and multilateral institutions, criticizing what he described as a US-led “return to the law of the jungle.”

Wang argued that global stability depends on adherence to international law and collective decision-making, warning against unilateralism and bloc confrontation.

Germany’s Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock and India’s External Affairs Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar also voiced support for multilateralism and the UN system, stressing that global challenges — from conflict to climate change — require cooperative solutions.

The conference highlighted widening divides over global governance and security, as world leaders grapple with war in Europe, rising great-power competition, and uncertainty about the future of the international order.