EU Chief Kallas rebuffs US claims of European civilizational collapse

By Ahmet Taş | Wise News Press

MUNICH, GERMANY — EU Foreign Policy Chief Kaja Kallas dismissed claims that Europe is facing a civilizational decline or an existential threat, directly responding to sharp criticism issued by United States officials.

Speaking at a panel organized by Euronews during the 2026 Munich Security Conference, Kallas rejected the narrative that the continent is at risk of vanishing due to its current policy trajectory. Her remarks followed a speech by US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who characterized European mass migration and climate initiatives as an "ideological cult" and argued that the West requires renewal to correct failed policies.

The "Existential Threat" debate

The friction follows a controversial US national security assessment released last year, which suggested that Europe faces an existential threat unless it implements fundamental policy changes. The report specifically labeled European migration policies as destabilizing and hinted that Washington might support political factions that oppose Brussels' current direction.

Secretary Rubio echoed these concerns in Munich, emphasizing that while the US and Europe share deep historical and cultural ties, "open border migration" and "deliberate deindustrialization" through climate policy are weakening the West. Rubio’s critique highlighted a growing ideological divide between the Transatlantic partners regarding internal social and economic management.

A retort on press freedom and "Woke" labels

Kallas countered the American assessment by highlighting Europe’s high standards of living and its continued appeal to neighboring nations. She pointedly addressed the criticism regarding democratic values by citing global rankings.

"Coming from a country that ranks second in the press freedom index, it is interesting to hear criticism from a country that ranks 58th in that same index," Kallas remarked, delivering a sharp jab at the US domestic record.

Addressing the "woke" label often used by American conservatives to describe Brussels, Kallas noted that despite being called "woke and corrupt" by some, the European Union remains a prestigious "club" that nations from Ukraine to the Western Balkans are still eager to join.

Warning on Russian negotiations

Beyond Transatlantic bickering, Kallas issued a stern warning regarding upcoming US-mediated talks between Kyiv and Moscow scheduled for next week in Switzerland. She cautioned that Russia must not be allowed to secure at the negotiating table what it failed to achieve on the battlefield.

"The greatest threat Russia currently poses is winning through diplomacy what it could not obtain through war," Kallas stated. She asserted that Russia is currently in a weakened position and urged Western allies to maintain a firm stance to ensure Moscow does not gain an undue advantage during the mediation process.

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