LOC17:27
14:27 GMT
MUNICH, Feb 15 (KUNA) -- US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on Saturday dismissed recent claims on diminishing Western influence.
Speaking at the 56th Munich Security Conference (MSC-2020), held in the German city of Munich, Pompeo sought to assuage European concerns over the transatlantic bond.
"The West is winning and we're winning together," Pompeo affirmed.
He urged European leaders to cooperate in defending western values, mainly democracy and freedom, challenging that the west would eventually prevail.
The US Secretary of State rejected as "grossly over-exaggerated" their claims that Washington had retreated from the global stage.
Meanwhile, French President Emmanuel Macron called for building a united European strategy aiming at maintaining European sovereignty.
Addressing the same gathering, Macron said what is required for the coming years is to move quickly towards European sovereignty issues.
"What's key in the coming years is to move much faster on issues of sovereignty on the European level," he said.
He urged Europe to recognize that in terms of social welfare it had different values to the US.
More than 500 high-level international decision-makers, including over 35 heads of state or government as well as some 100 foreign and defense ministers gathered at the 56th MSC to discuss current crises and future security challenges. (end)
anj.mt