At a session of the Munich Security Conference, President Biden's message about the importance of revitalizing alliances and reaffirming Europe's defense was well-received. However, French President Emmanuel Macron pushed back, advocating for Europe's "strategic autonomy" from the US due to a shift in focus towards Asia, particularly China. Even German Chancellor Angela Merkel, while praising Biden's decision to cancel troop withdrawals, cautioned that their interests may not always align. Despite these differences, all three leaders acknowledged the end of the "America First" era and welcomed back Biden, whom they knew from his previous roles. Biden also emphasized the need for a united strategy against misinformation spread by Putin and Xi, who suggested that the chaos in the US election reflected democratic weakness. Biden emphasized the importance of proving that democracies can still effectively serve their people in today's world, stating that it is necessary to show that their model is not outdated. The president, who has been a regular attendee at the Munich conference even before his presidency, delivered his address in a video meeting due to the pandemic. He also participated in a brief closed meeting with the Group of 7 allies, hosted by Prime Minister Boris Johnson of Britain, also held virtually. The next in-person summit is scheduled for Britain this summer, pending the status of the pandemic. While Biden did not mention his predecessor, Donald Trump, directly, he focused on moving away from Trumpism in the United States' foreign policy approach. He marked the return to the Paris climate agreement and a new initiative to engage Iran diplomatically with Britain, France, and Germany to restore the 2015 nuclear agreement. During an online G7 meeting, Biden emphasized the importance of recalling the first principles that led to the Atlantic alliance and NATO's creation in 1949 at the start of the Cold War. French President Emmanuel Macron participated in the meeting in Paris on February 19, 2021. Biden stressed that democracy does not occur by chance. "We must protect it. Make it stronger. Revitalize it." Biden contrasted himself with Trump by emphasizing the importance of NATO and the United States' commitment to it. He stated that the US is prepared to fulfill its obligations under Article V, emphasizing that an attack on one member is an attack on all. Biden also urged Europe to consider new challenges, such as competition with China in areas like cyberspace, artificial intelligence, and biotechnology. He advocated for standing up to Russia, specifically mentioning the SolarWinds attack on government and corporate computer networks. Biden emphasized the importance of addressing Russian hacking for global security. The president did not address the challenge of punishing Russia without worsening tensions. White House officials are still examining the extent of the Russian intrusion and struggling to find ways to hold Putin accountable. The focus on Biden's relationship with Macron, who has criticized NATO, was notable. Macron believes NATO should become more of a political body where European members have equal status to the United States and are not dominated by American decision-making. He argues that a more autonomous Europe would strengthen NATO, with Europe taking more responsibility for its own security by increasing defense spending to rebalance the trans-Atlantic relationship. However, not all European states share this view, with many reluctant to spend the necessary funds and Central and Eastern European nations preferring to rely on the United States for security. Macron also suggests engaging in dialogue with Russia to improve NATO's security capabilities, despite Russia's lack of interest in better relations as long as sanctions remain in place following the annexation of Crimea. Macron emphasized the need for Europe to take on more responsibility for its own protection, as he expressed concern about the reliability of the United States in the future. He acknowledged that it will be a lengthy process for Europe to strengthen its defense capabilities, but he is committed to initiating this process now. Additionally, he aims to enhance the EU's technological capabilities to reduce its reliance on American and Chinese supply chains. Biden aims to strengthen supply chains with Western allies to reduce Chinese influence, proposing a joint project for European and American tech companies. German Chancellor Angela Merkel discussed the challenges of dealing with China, acknowledging its dual role as both a competitor and partner for the West. She stated that Russia consistently involves European Union members in hybrid conflicts. Therefore, it is crucial to develop a trans-Atlantic approach towards Russia that offers cooperation while also clearly addressing differences. Biden pledged to fulfill a promise to donate $4 billion towards expediting the production and distribution of vaccines globally. However, there were noticeable differences in approach during the meeting. Macron emphasized the EU's focus on Africa and urged Western nations to provide 13 million vaccine doses to African governments promptly to protect healthcare workers. He warned that failure to do so could lead African nations to seek vaccines from other sources. Macron stated that vaccine donations would demonstrate a shared commitment to advancing and upholding common values. Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus of the WHO also called for countries and drugmakers to accelerate vaccine production and distribution worldwide to prevent leaving some countries behind and potentially regressing in progress. Tedros emphasized at the Munich conference that ensuring fair distribution of vaccines is not only morally right, but also the most strategic approach. He pointed out that delaying vaccination efforts in any country would prolong the pandemic's grip on global control.