At the Munich Security Conference, German Chancellor Angela Merkel (CDU) warned of an arms race after the failure of the nuclear weapons control treaty for Europe between the US and Russia (INF Treaty).
The termination was for Europe "really bad news" had been. The termination by the US was done over the heads of the Europeans, although their security were directly affected by the agreement.
The answer to that, however, should not be "blind upgrading," Merkel told heads of state and government in Munich. Global disarmament must continue to be discussed. Merkel took the opportunity to make an offer to the People's Republic of China: she would be happy, "even if such talks were held with China". Currently, the "rivalry between major powers" is putting the world under pressure, Merkel said.
At the beginning of her speech Merkel warned against a collapse of international political structures. "We can not just smash her," she said in a nod to US President Donald Trump. "There are many conflicts that challenge us."
Merkel called for an expansion of international cooperation. "We have to think in networked structures, the military component of which is one," said the Chancellor. She emphasized the importance of NATO. "We need NATO as an anchor of stability in stormy times, and we need it as a community of values.