President Pavel in Munich: Europe-US reset is about fair defense burden sharing

The reset in relations between Europe and the United States — one of the themes at this year’s Munich Security Conference — is not a rift, it is about Europe taking greater responsibility for its own defense, Czech President Petr Pavel said at the Munich Security Conference. Speaking to reporters on Friday, Mr.Pavel said the United States had long paid a disproportionate share of Europe’s defense costs.

“Emotionally, it may look like a rift between Europe and the U.S., one that could even threaten NATO. But if you listen carefully, it’s about putting the relationship on a more equal footing,” he said.

Pavel noted that U.S. representatives had previously pushed for greater European engagement, but had done so in a more diplomatic way. It was only under President Donald Trump that the approach has become more forceful, he added.

The Czech president also welcomed what he described as a convergence of positions among the United States, Europe and Ukraine on the search for a peace solution to the war in Ukraine. However, he said Russia still needs to be brought to serious negotiations, as it has so far shown no willingness to end the war.