EU Rejects U.S. ‘Civilizational Erasure’ Claims At Munich Security Conference

A senior European Union official has firmly dismissed U.S. claims that Europe is facing “civilizational erasure,” responding to criticism voiced by members of the Trump administration at the Munich Security Conference.

Kaja Kallas, the EU’s foreign policy chief, addressed the gathering on Sunday, a day after Marco Rubio delivered remarks aimed at reassuring European allies. While Rubio adopted a more measured tone compared to JD Vance’s sharper comments at the same event last year, he reaffirmed Washington’s determination to reshape the trans-Atlantic alliance and advance its strategic priorities.

Kallas pushed back against assertions in the U.S. national security strategy released in December, which argued that Europe’s economic challenges are overshadowed by a deeper threat of “civilizational erasure.” The document claimed that immigration policies, falling birth rates, alleged restrictions on free speech, and a perceived loss of national identity are weakening the continent.

“Contrary to what some may say, woke, decadent Europe is not facing civilizational erasure,” Kallas said during her address. “In fact, people still want to join our club and not just fellow Europeans,” she added, recalling that during a visit to Canada last year, she was told many Canadians were interested in EU membership.

She also criticised what she described as persistent “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. So that’s why it’s very hard for me to believe these accusations,” she said.

In his speech, Rubio emphasised that ending the trans-Atlantic partnership “is neither our goal nor our wish,” adding that “our home may be in the Western hemisphere, but we will always be a child of Europe.”

However, he reiterated that the Trump administration remains firm on key policy areas such as migration, trade, and climate.

European leaders at the conference likewise signalled they would uphold their own priorities, including commitments to free speech protections, climate action, and open trade.

Keir Starmer, the British Prime Minister, stressed that Europe must 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 said.

Kallas concluded that while differences between Washington and Brussels remain, cooperation is still possible.

“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 said.