Europe at a crossroads as Rubio reassures allies while China pitches partnership

At the Munich Security Conference, Rubio sought to reassure European leaders of the U.S. commitment to the transatlantic alliance as Beijing’s Wang Yi pitched a China–EU partnership that rejects bloc confrontation and unilateralism. The exchanges come as Europe weighs trade deficits and supply-chain concerns with China, plus wary views on China’s stance on Taiwan and Russia, signaling a broader shift toward a multi‑polar global order with Europe potentially acting as a hinge between Washington and Beijing.