This year I'm leaving the Munich Security Conference in a mood which diplomats would describe as “thoughtful”. We can call this progress, as my mood in previous years was famously gloomy. The main highlight was obviously Secretary of State Mark Rubio’s speech. Opinions differ on whether it was an outstretched hand and an invitation for a conversation, or just the same signalling to Europe but wrapped in fancy paper. Whichever side of that debate you are on, I think it’s a sideshow. While everyone in Europe is discussing what the latest American speech means, I don't believe many people are discussing the speeches of Europeans in the US. > That means Europe is once again on the receiving end of a strategy imposed by others. The current US administration is suggesting a very specific view of what “Western alliance” means, and their view is more aligned with that of their President’s electorate than with that of the average European. ## Sign up for my free newsletter We fight for freedom together! Subscribe Email sent! Check your inbox to complete your signup. No spam. Unsubscribe anytime. This means that even if it is a call for a conversation it might be a very short lived one. Europeans do believe in individual freedoms, free trade, do believe that the countries constituting the European Union are sovereign, at least most of them do trust in climate science. And if things are not working, Europeans tend to fix them via elections and smarter decisions, not revolutions – The current German administration took measures to curb migration, the European Commission is reversing some of the more extreme regulations. And Europeans don’t feel like they are in civilisational decline. What they see in their streets is very different to what some Americans see on sensationalist YouTube channels. And we Europeans really do still believe in values. Like, for example, the values of democracy, rule of law, territorial integrity. Since the tragedies of the Second World War, a common understanding of these values has brought us together as a peaceful community, and we tend to be concerned about protecting the values that brought us our prosperity and stability. Nobody forced the people of Europe to support Ukraine, to receive Ukrainian refugees, to raise millions for Ukraine, to vote for politicians who support Ukraine. But they overwhelmingly did, even though Russia’s TikTok influencers and Facebook fake accounts tried very hard to stop them. So I don’t think that Europeans should preach, panic or despair about the changes in the values held dear by those running the United States. Every country is free to choose their world view. The US chose theirs, and they aren’t asking for Europe’s input in their decisionmaking. But Europeans are also free; free to continue protecting their core democratic values from whoever tries to undermine and corrupt them. Free to point out differences in values, and to explain to electorates why these differences matter. Europe has to be ready to defend the values its vast majority holds dear. > Europe has to be prepared to help defend other democracies anywhere in the world if they are under attack. And they always are. Europe has to show readiness to cooperate closely with those who share our values. Europe can of course cooperate with those who share our interests, but be mindful that interests do change—for example—trade can be made into a political weapon very quickly. Such pivots are less frequent when values are aligned. Europe has to be ready to present its own version of the transatlantic agenda - a partnership, but without compromising on what is most important. And what is most important is values. But can we achieve that? There are still people upset and confused about the fact that Europe is not invited to the negotiations between the US, Russia and Ukraine. But Europe had the opportunity to do what it takes to command an invite to such talks. Leaders chose instead to dither, and so they were forced to accept whatever everybody else decides. Opening a diplomatic channel to Putin cannot create a negotiating table, it can only gift him yet another display of European self-humiliation. At some point, we must pivot to the solutions that actually work. Europe is still sovereign, and still has its core values. Europeans have the capability to carpe diem, to finally display all of our strength and resolve, at any time we choose. Europe also has the power to make strong and mutually beneficial alliances with those around the world who want to share our values. I am thoughtfully suggesting we do all this sooner, restoring our dignity while we still have the strength and values we currently have, rather than trying later, when our influence in global affairs has declined further by our inaction, and things have become very gloomy for everybody. If you appreciated this article and you would like to support our work, join Friends of Democracy today! Sign up and support To book Gabrielius Landsbergis please contact his agent at Champions Book Gabrielius Landsbergis

<p>I presume that the NATO Secretary General’s messaging about Europe’s inability to fight Russia alone was intended for Europeans as a warning against shutting the door on transatlantic cooperation. Well, nobody is shutting that door just yet, but I would argue that it is nevertheless prudent to consider  the possibility that a war with Russia, if it came to that, might have to be fought by Europeans alone. Preparing for such an eventuality should not be taboo, and discussion of contingencies should not be ridiculed.</p><p>Furthermore, it is worth discussing how Mark Rutte’s messaging might have been interpreted by our adversaries.</p><p>In the face of an existential threat, in a recent meeting at the European Parliament, Mr. Rutte said that those who think Europe could defend itself without US support are “dreaming”. </p><p>This de facto defeatism diminishes Europe’s ability to deter Putin. Bullies aren’t deterred by loud declarations of vulnerability, they are emboldened and encouraged. I feel a little uneasy watching a NATO Secretary General choosing this particular communication strategy.</p><p>But Mr. Rutte’s much-repeated soundbite must have been music to Putin and Xi’s ears for an even more fundamental reason, which is further deepening my concern. </p><p>I remember that not long ago, the same Mark Rutte, during a joint press conference with Chancellor Merz, warned that if China decided to launch an attack on Taiwan, they would likely coordinate with Russia to create a parallel conflict to keep the West overstretched. I agree with the assessment, this does indeed seem to be their plan. </p><p>Therefore, both our adversaries must have been delighted to have received loud confirmation, from the head of NATO himself, that their dual-theater strategy can indeed work. If the head of NATO is certain that Europe cannot defend itself without US support, he is implying that the US will face a serious dilemma - either lose Europe to Russia, or Taiwan to China.</p><p>Rutte’s “dreaming” speech, rather than serving as a rallying cry for the transatlantic partnership, might have been welcomed by the Chinese as a self-fulfilling prophecy of success if they do exactly what they are planning to do.</p><p>A stronger NATO strategy would be to confirm and further increase transatlantic readiness to fight in two theatres at the same time, so that Putin and Xi would themselves be presented with a dilemma requiring their attention and resources. But this is not what we hear from Mr. Rutte, and not what we read in official documents coming out of Washington. Why not?</p><p>I hear a lot about pragmatism. Mr. Rutte’s “pragmatic” approach seems to be declaring, and even exaggerating, weakness in order to justify the need for US support. But nobody was really questioning that need for that. Nobody is seriously saying Europe should choose to go it alone and burn all bridges, but some of us are saying we might not get a choice, and Mr. Rutte’s assumption that the US would split its forces to save Europe from Russia is looking more and more dreamlike as time goes on.</p><p>The important question Mr. Rutte side-stepped is this: What must be done to prepare Europe to fight in the increasingly likely and terrifying scenario B, i.e. without our main ally? In the light of recent developments, it seems to me that the pinnacle of pragmatism would be to at least have an honest conversation about this very real possibility.</p> <div class="kg-card kg-cta-card kg-cta-bg-blue kg-cta-immersive kg-cta-centered"> <div class="kg-cta-content"> <div class="kg-cta-content-inner"> <div class="kg-cta-text"> <p><span style="white-space:pre-wrap">If you appreciated this article and you would like to support our work, join Friends of Democracy today!</span></p> </div> <a href="#/portal/signup?ref=appreciated" class="kg-cta-button kg-style-accent" style="color:#FFFFFF"> Sign up and support </a> </div> </div> </div> <div class="kg-card kg-cta-card kg-cta-bg-grey kg-cta-immersive kg-cta-centered"> <div class="kg-cta-content"> <div class="kg-cta-content-inner"> <div class="kg-cta-text"> <p><span style="white-space:pre-wrap">To book Gabrielius Landsbergis please </span><a href="mailto:[email protected]" rel="noreferrer" class="cta-link-color"><span style="white-space:pre-wrap">contact</span></a><span style="white-space:pre-wrap"> his agent at </span><a href="https://champions-speakers.co.uk/speaker-agent/gabrielius-landsbergis" rel="noreferrer" class="cta-link-color"><span style="white-space:pre-wrap">Champions</span></a></p> </div> <a href="https://champions-speakers.co.uk/speaker-agent/gabrielius-landsbergis" class="kg-cta-button " style="background-color:#000000;color:#FFFFFF"> Book Gabrielius Landsbergis </a> </div> </div> </div><div class="kg-card kg-signup-card kg-width-wide " style="background-color:#F0F0F0;display:none"> <div class="kg-signup-card-content"> <div class="kg-signup-card-text "> <h2 class="kg-signup-card-heading" style="color:#000000"><span style="white-space:pre-wrap">Sign up for my free newsletter</span></h2> <p class="kg-signup-card-subheading" style="color:#000000"><span style="white-space:pre-wrap">We fight for freedom together!</span></p> <input type="hidden" value="signupfreesnippet" /> <div class="kg-signup-card-fields"> <input class="kg-signup-card-input" id="email" type="email" required="true" placeholder="Your email" /> <button class="kg-signup-card-button kg-style-accent" style="color:#FFFFFF" type="submit"> <span class="kg-signup-card-button-default">Subscribe</span> <span class="kg-signup-card-button-loading"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" height="24" width="24" viewbox="0 0 24 24"> <circle cx="4" cy="12" r="3"></circle> <circle cx="12" cy="12" r="3"></circle> <circle cx="20" cy="12" r="3"></circle> </svg></span> </button> </div> <div class="kg-signup-card-success" style="color:#000000"> Email sent! 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I wish her only the best in her continued mission for Belarus, and I will be forever thankful for all she did for Lithuania.

We know we are stuck, our friends and enemies know too.

Leaders should lock themselves in a room and not come out until they have the Doctrine hashed out.

It’s been a year since my time at the Lithuanian Foreign Ministry ended and I started out on this new journey with you and all the other Friends. ### We’re having a party I want to thank you all for your support this year, and as a special thanks for my paid members – we’re having a birthday party online! ****Friends of Democracy Birthday Party**** Wednesday December 17th Streaming live from Stanford 10:00 PST / 13:00 EST / 19:00 CET / 20:00 EET Secret access for paid members only ****Paid members only!**** A secret link will be sent to all paid members who are signed up before the stream starts. Login will be required. Sign up now ## Ask Me Anything Ask me about geopolitics, history, diplomacy, Lithuania, my tweets or anything else. **Don't be shy, RSVP to this email or add a comment on the website to submit your questions in advance.** > _Thank you for being part of the fight for freedom and giving me hope that the world can turn a corner in 2026._ #### Love from ### Gabrielius Landsbergis

Ukraine has more to gain by navigating itself away from the demands for capitulation, even if that means sailing towards stormier seas.

There is a glaringly obvious message for Europe in the 28 point plan: This is the end of the end.

My speech at the Magnitsky Human Rights Awards

A real European peace plan would be one that reduces Putin’s strength at home or in Ukraine, forcing him to change his calculations.

I now feel I cannot stay silent about my country’s radical changes in direction.

The geopolitical Groundhog Day is still stuck on repeat.

Politicians might fool their own people, but I am not so sure of their ability to fool Putin.

Unfortunately — Europe didn’t even wake up, let alone step up.

We are the architects of this de facto defeat, so now we are trying to pretend it came out of nowhere.

Is Europe going to follow President Zelensky’s example and continue to reject the Putin–Trump pact?