The Obama administration has called for stepped up US-European cooperation to isolate tyrannies like the Assad regime in Syria, promote democracy in the Arab World and beyond and repair damage from the global financial crisis.
And, as America shifts its primary strategic focus to Asia and reduces its military presence in Europe, President Barack Obama's top two national security aides - attending an international security conference in Munich together in a demonstration of Washington's resolve - reassured the continent that it remains deeply relevant to US interests as well as its partner of 'first resort' in dealing with global hotspots.
US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said Americans and Europeans must send a clear and common message to tyrants that they must respect the rights of their people. She spoke as violence flared anew in Syria ahead of an expected vote on a UN Security Council resolution on the matter later Saturday.
'As a tyrant in Damascus brutalises his own people, America and Europe stand shoulder to shoulder,' she said, referring to Syrian President Bashar Assad.
'We are united, alongside the Arab League, in demanding an end to the bloodshed and a democratic future for Syria. And we are hopeful that at 10am, Eastern Standard Time in New York, the Security Council will express the will of the international community,' she said.
Obama, in a strongly worded statement on Saturday, condemned Assad's 'unspeakable assault' and called for his ouster.
'Assad must halt his campaign of killing and crimes against his own people now. He must step aside and allow a democratic transition to proceed immediately,' the president said.
While promoting democracy, she warned that Europe could not ignore backsliding in its own backyard, decrying limits being placed on press and religious freedoms. She did not identify trouble spots by name but was referring to Russia, Belarus and Hungary.
'It is not credible to preach democracy elsewhere unless we also protect it within our community,' she said. 'The trappings of democracy are not enough.'
Clinton said she had no doubt that Europe would overcome its economic woes. But she said it was imperative for a common agenda and enhanced cooperation to reinforce recoveries on both sides of the Atlantic.
To boost the recovery, she said the United States and Europe need to team up to fight unfair trade practices.
Meanwhile, US Defense Secretary Leon Panetta said Europe is America's security partner of choice for military operations and diplomacy around the world.
He said Europe will continue to be a central US defence interest, even as the administration withdraws two of the four Army brigades stationed on the continent.
'In all, the steps Europe can expect from the United States amount to a vote of confidence from Washington in the future of the alliance, especially in a period of fiscal austerity,' he said.
He noted that the US military will still have a larger presence in Europe than in any other region of the world.
'That's not only because the peace and prosperity of Europe is critically important to the United States, but because Europe remains our security partner of choice for military operations and diplomacy around the world,' he said.
