Macron and Merz speak at Munich conference, highlighting European unity and disagreements

French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz both spoke at the Munich Security Conference. Macron argued that Europe needs to become a stronger, more independent geopolitical power and should act proudly. Merz, while also speaking about European strength, publicly disagreed with Macron's suggestion to restart talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin and rejected the idea of a shared European debt union.