France, Feb. 14 -- Speaking at the Munich Security Conference on Friday, Macron pushed back against what he described as a growing tendency to caricature Europe as weak, divided or repressive.

Instead, he presented the continent as a unique political success story - a collection of sovereign states that have turned centuries of conflict into lasting peace through cooperation.

"Europe is a radically original political construction," he said, arguing that its blend of sovereignty and integration offers a model worth emulating.

His remarks set the tone for a summit dominated by calls to rebuild trust between Europe and the United States while adapting to a changing geopolitical landscape.

More than 60 leaders gathered in the Bavarian cit...