Biden's message emphasizing the importance of revitalizing alliances and reaffirming the defense of Europe was well received at the Munich Security Conference. However, there was opposition, notably from French President Macron, who defended the concept of "strategic autonomy" from the US. Merkel also expressed caution in her praise for Biden's decision to cancel troop withdrawals from Germany, warning that their interests may not always align. Despite differences, all three leaders acknowledged the end of the "America First" era and welcomed Biden back, highlighting the need for a common strategy against narratives promoted by Putin and Xi. Biden emphasized the importance of proving that democracies can still effectively serve their people in today's world and stressed the need to show that their model is not outdated. The president, a frequent attendee of the Munich conference even before his presidency, viewed the event as a return to familiar territory. Due to the pandemic, the conference was condensed into a video meeting, as was a closed meeting of the Group of 7 allies that Biden participated in. The next in-person summit is scheduled for Britain this summer, pending pandemic conditions. While Biden did not mention his predecessor, Donald Trump, by name, his remarks focused on moving away from Trumpism in the United States' global approach. He commemorated the return to the Paris climate agreement and a new initiative to engage Iran diplomatically, joining Britain, France, and Germany to restore the 2015 nuclear agreement that Trump withdrew from. French President Emmanuel Macron participated in an Online G7 meeting in Paris on February 19, 2021. Instead of outlining a specific agenda, Biden emphasized the core principles that led to the formation of the Atlantic alliance and NATO in 1949 during the Cold War, stating that democracy is not a coincidence. "We must defend, strengthen, and renew it," Biden stated in direct opposition to Trump's previous stance on NATO. While Trump considered withdrawing from the alliance and refused to acknowledge the US's responsibilities under Article V, Biden emphasized the US's commitment to the alliance. He urged Europe to shift their thinking away from the Cold War era and focus on new challenges, specifically long-term strategic competition with China in areas such as cyberspace, artificial intelligence, and biotechnology. He advocated for confronting Russia, specifically in response to the SolarWinds attack on US and European computer networks. Biden emphasized the importance of addressing Russian cyberattacks to protect collective security. However, he avoided discussing how to hold Russia accountable without escalating tensions. White House officials are still assessing the extent of the Russian intrusion and struggling to develop options to make Putin pay for the attack. The focus was also on Biden's interactions with Macron, who has been critical of NATO's relevance since the end of the Warsaw Pact. Macron believes NATO should function more as a political body where European members have equal status to the United States and are less 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. However, not all European states agree with this view, as many are reluctant to increase military spending and prefer to rely on the United States for security. Macron also suggests engaging in dialogue with Russia to enhance NATO's security capabilities, despite Russia's lack of interest in improving relations as long as sanctions remain in place following the annexation of Crimea from Ukraine. Macron emphasized that Europe cannot rely on the United States as it has in the past and must take more responsibility for its own defense. He acknowledged that building up a European defense arm will take time but is committed to starting the process now, along with improving the EU's technological capabilities to reduce dependence on American and Chinese supply chains. Angela Merkel put on her mask after a news conference following a virtual summit with G7 leaders in Berlin on February 19, 2021. Biden aims to strengthen supply chains among Western allies to reduce Chinese influence, proposing a joint project for European and American technology companies in semiconductors and software. German Chancellor Angela Merkel highlighted the challenges of balancing competition and partnership with China during a virtual summit with G7 leaders. She stated that Russia is consistently involving European Union members in hybrid conflicts. Therefore, it is crucial to develop a trans-Atlantic strategy towards Russia that includes cooperative offers while also clearly addressing differences. During the meeting, Biden announced the fulfillment of an American promise to donate $4 billion for the global distribution of coronavirus vaccines. Macron emphasized the EU's focus on Africa and urged Western nations to provide 13 million vaccine doses to African governments promptly. Failure to do so could lead African countries to seek vaccines from other sources. Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus of the WHO also urged countries and drugmakers to accelerate vaccine manufacturing and distribution globally to avoid leaving some countries behind and starting over. According to Tedros, ensuring equal access to vaccines is not only a moral imperative but also a strategic one. He emphasized at the Munich conference that delaying the vaccination of populations in all countries will prolong the pandemic's impact and prevent it from being contained.