Updates: World leaders gather in Munich for 2nd day of security conference

• It’s a wrap from us

  Thank you for joining today’s live coverage.

  For more content, watch Rubio deliver his speech at the Munich Security Conference, here.

  And read about how Iran and the United States are presenting clashing views before expected talks over the coming days, here.
• 16h ago

   (22:45 GMT)

  Here’s what happened today

  We will close this live page shortly. But before we do, here’s a look at the day’s major developments:

  • US Secretary of State Marco Rubio delivered a more conciliatory speech than JD Vance last year, saying the United States and Europe “belong together”, but making it clear that Washington is on a new trajectory with Trump.
  • EU leaders welcomed Rubio’s speech, as he gave hope for the future of Europe’s ties with the US.
  • European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen echoed national leaders who called for boosting the continent’s defence capabilities, while urging them to bring the EU’s founding principle of mutual defence to life.
  • Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin, was a “slave to war” and would continue to attack the neighbouring nation unless Europe offered security guarantees.
  • Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said attempts to split China from Taiwan would very likely push China and the US towards a conflict.
  • Demonstrations aiming to spotlight the human rights situation in Iran drew large crowds in Munich, as the exiled son of Iran’s last shah, the US-based Reza Pahlavi, called on Trump to help the Iranian people.

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• 17h ago

   (22:30 GMT)

  What did Reza Pahlavi say at the Munich protest?

  At a rally in Munich, the exiled son of Iran’s last shah said he was ready to lead the country towards a “secular democratic future”.

  The US-based Reza Pahlavi, who has not returned to Iran since before the 1979 Islamic revolution that ousted the monarchy, told a crowd of about 200,000 supporters that he could lead a transition.

  “I am here to guarantee a transition to a secular democratic future,” he said.

  “I am committed to be the leader of transition for you, so we can one day have the final opportunity to decide the fate of our country through a democratic, transparent process to the ballot box.”

  Pahlavi has urged Iranians at home and abroad to continue demonstrations against the authorities, calling on them to chant slogans from their homes and rooftops at 8pm (16:30 GMT) on Saturday and Sunday, to coincide with protests in Germany and elsewhere.