Trump news at a glance: Europe must stand up to Trump and his 'demolition men', new report says
Source: The Guardian
Mon 9 Feb 2026 21.01 EST
Last modified on Mon 9 Feb 2026 21.04 EST
Europe has come to the painful realisation that it needs to be more assertive and more militarily independent from an authoritarian US administration that no longer shares a commitment to liberal democratic norms and values, a report prepared by the Munich Security Conference asserts.
Polling commissioned for the report shows Europeans are increasingly willing to operate without US leadership and say it is no longer necessary.
The MSC report accuses Trump of having a lust for destruction and of siding with Vladimir Putin. “Most of Europe is watching the United States’ descent into ‘competitive authoritarianism’ with rising concern or even horror, wondering how resilient US democracy really is,” the report says.
The report also suggests European leaders need to adapt to the techniques of the Trump administration and be more daring in how they make decisions and communicate. “Effectively pushing back against the demolition men requires much more political courage and innovative thought. The actors defending international rules and institutions need to be just as bold as the actors who seek to destroy them,” it says.
Read more: https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/feb/09/trump-administration-news-updates-today
Link to MSC REPORT - Munich Security Report 2026
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