MUNICH SECURITY CONFERENCE 2017 AND PRESS REVIEW AND ANALYSIS

" A Worried Europe Finds Scant Reassurances on Trump's Plans" (Steven Erlanger, New York Times, 19 February): "They came from all over — diplomats and generals, policy experts and security officials — seeking clues to President Trump’s ideas and intentions. They left without much reassurance.

"Washington PR Offensive Fails to Quell Europe's Anxiety Over Trump", New York Times, 18 February): " One month into the unusual presidency of Donald Trump, his most senior cabinet members were deployed to Brussels, Bonn and Munich this week to reassure nervous Europeans that everything would be okay. The Europeans heard from Defense Secretary James Mattis that the NATO military alliance was not "obsolete" after all, despite Trump's repeated suggestions to the contrary. And they were told by Vice President Mike Pence that Russia would be "held accountable" for its actions in Ukraine, despite Trump's friendly overtures to Russian President Vladimir Putin. But if the aim of the visits was to reassure Europe that the pillars of U.S. foreign policy are fully intact, they fell short of the mark, European diplomats, politicians and analysts gathered in Munich said."

"Pence and Merkel embrace NATO but differ on transatlantic partnership" (Michael Birnbaum and Ashley Parker, Washington Post, 18 February): "Vice President Mike Pence and German Chancellor Angela Merkel on Saturday offered dueling assessments of the troubled transatlantic relationship, as both praised NATO but Pence made no mention of the European Union, the key economic and political pact that binds Europe together. In back-to-back speeches at the Munich Security Conference, Merkel and Pence appeared to find common ground about NATO, whose members have been urged by President Trump  to spend more on defense. But while Merkel praised the broader international organizations that have been a key part of the post-Cold War global order, Pence’s silence on the E.U. may only fuel fears among European allies that the new leadership in the White House will embrace only some aspects of European unity, while rejecting others."

"Mike Pence tells European leaders US will be 'unwavering' in commitment to Nato" (May Bulman, Independent, 18 February): "Vice President Mike Pence has told European leaders the US will be 'unwavering' in its commitment to the Nato alliance. Speaking at the Munich Security Conference in his first major policy address, Mr Pence said the Trump administration 'strongly supports' the international military organisation, despite Donald Trump having formerly described the alliance as 'obsolete'. In an effort to reassure European leaders over Mr Trump's alleged closeness with the Russian government, Mr Pence also said the US would 'hold Russia accountable' over the Ukraine crisis, even as the President seeks "new common ground" with Vladimir Putin's administration."

"Mike Pence says U.S. Backs NATO but Urges Europe to Boost Military Spending" (Anton Troianovski and Julian E. Barnes, Wall Street Journal, 18 February): "Vice President Mike Pence said the U.S. would be unwavering in its commitment to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, but demanded that Europe step up its military spending, marking one of the Trump administration’s most full-throated efforts yet to reassure nervous partners."

"Trump's teal in disarray, U.S. Senator Mc Cain tells Europe" (Phil Stewart und Robin Emmott, Reuters, 17 February): "Republican Senator John McCain broke with the reassuring message that U.S. officials visiting Germany have sought to convey on their debut trip to Europe, saying on Friday that the administration of President Donald Trump was in 'disarray'. McCain, a known Trump critic, told the Munich Security Conference that the resignation of the new president's security adviser Michael Flynn over his contacts with Russia reflected deep problems in Washington. 'I think that the Flynn issue obviously is something that shows that in many respects this administration is in disarray and they've got a lot of work to do,' said McCain, even as he praised Trump's defense secretary."

"Trump Aides Try to Reassure Europe, but Many Are Wary" (Helene Cooper, New York Times, 17 February): "The skepticism over who is in charge in Washington was crystallized on Friday at an annual meeting of dignitaries in Munich for a yearly security conference. Germany’s defense minister, Ursula von der Leyen, caused ripples when she pointedly expressed appreciation for the American 'secretary of defense’s strong commitment to NATO.'"

"Europe has to do more' to fund Nato" (BBC, 17 February): "US Vice-President Mike Pence is leading an American delegation to the Munich Security Conference this weekend. Officials from around the world will be looking for clues into how President Trump's "America First" policy will affect international diplomacy, and the future of institutions such as Nato."

"John McCain just systematically dismantled Donald Trump's entire worldview" (Aaron Blake, Washington Post, 17 February): "During a speech at the Munich Security Conference in Germany, the Republican senator from Arizona delivered a pointed and striking point-by-point takedown of Trump's worldview and brand of nationalism. McCain didn't mention Trump's name once, but he didn't have to. And even considering the two men's up-and-down history and the terrible things Trump has said about McCain, it was a striking display from a senior leader of a party when it comes to a president of the same party. In his speech, McCain suggested the Western world is uniquely imperiled this year — even more so than when Barack Obama was president — and proceeded to question whether it will even survive."