The annual Munich Security Conference kicked off with European leaders outlining a new vision for the transatlantic alliance. This vision suggests a future less reliant on American defense and commerce, acknowledging a divergence in core values between Europe and the United States. The spotlight now shifts to Saturday, where the Trump administration, represented by Secretary of State Marco Rubio, will deliver its response.
Rubio is scheduled to open the second day of the conference, following a series of meetings with European leaders in Munich on Friday. European officials anticipate a relatively amicable speech from Rubio, whom many view as a constructive partner on security matters, despite the broader disagreements with President Trump’s policies. There’s a collective sigh of relief that this year won’t echo last year’s gathering, where Vice President JD Vance notably chastised Europeans for marginalizing far-right political parties.
However, Rubio faces a significant task in addressing the numerous critiques voiced during the conference’s opening day. These discussions often felt like a direct rebuttal to Vance’s previous remarks and a preemptive response to Rubio’s upcoming speech.
Friedrich Merz, Germany’s Chancellor, initiated the conference by advocating for a reformed intercontinental partnership, subtly implying that Washington had deviated from its path. He stated that under President Trump’s second term, the United States’ claim to global leadership had been “challenged, and possibly squandered.” Merz highlighted specific areas where Trump’s policies diverged from the values Germans and other Europeans believed they shared with Americans, including stances on hate speech, climate change, and free trade. “The culture war of the MAGA movement is not ours,” he asserted.
French President Emmanuel Macron, in an evening address, expressed his discontent that Europe had been unfairly “vilified” for issues like uncontrolled immigration and suppression of free speech – pointed references to Trump and Vance. Macron emphasized, “Everyone should take their cue from us, instead of criticizing us or trying to divide us.”
Despite these tensions, leaders like Macron and Merz, along with others, conveyed a degree of optimism regarding the enduring partnership and mutual dependence between the United States and Europe. Kaja Kallas, a top European Union diplomat, underscored this sentiment during a panel discussion with Trump’s ambassador to the United Nations, noting that while Russia lacks strong allies in conflict, the United States relies on Europe. “You also need us, to be this superpower,” she declared.
Key Updates from the Conference:
- Ukraine: Rubio notably bypassed a meeting between European leaders and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on the conference sidelines. This occurs as negotiations between Ukrainian and Russian officials are set to resume in Geneva next week, with little progress reported so far.
- Greenland: The prime ministers of Denmark and Greenland are slated to speak Saturday evening, following their meeting with Rubio in Munich. The Trump administration is seeking to negotiate an expanded U.S. presence in Greenland, or even greater official American control over the autonomous Danish territory, which Trump has repeatedly expressed a desire for the U.S. to acquire.
- Nuclear Weapons: While American and European officials reaffirmed the U.S. commitment to providing a nuclear shield for its NATO allies, Europe is exploring contingency plans. Merz announced Friday that Germany has initiated discussions with France, a nuclear power, about establishing an independent European nuclear deterrent.
In his address, Rubio underscored the necessity for Western nations to reindustrialize, proposing collaborations in commercial space travel, artificial intelligence, and critical mineral supply chains. He also advocated for stricter immigration controls, stating that countries must regulate who settles within their borders, clarifying that this stance is not xenophobia.
Rubio further emphasized the cultural bonds of the West, asserting that they must be defended. He remarked, “Our disagreements come from our profound sense of concern about a Europe with which we are connected, not just economically, not just militarily. We are connected spiritually and we are connected culturally.” However, he did not acknowledge the role of immigration in shaping the modern West.
He critiqued the notion of a “liberal and borderless” world as a collective error, stating, “We made these mistakes together.” He called for facing these realities and moving forward to rebuild, affirming that President Trump would spearhead this renewal. “The United States of America will once again take on the task of renewal and restoration,” Rubio declared.
Earlier in his speech, Rubio evoked the Cold War era, highlighting the unified American and Western European struggle against communist nations and the eventual downfall of the Soviet Union. He argued that this victory mistakenly led to a “dangerous delusion” of the “end of history” and a “united, globalized citizenship” where everyone became a “citizen of the world.” He denounced this idea, claiming it ignored human nature and historical lessons, resulting in significant costs, including misperceptions about adversarial nations and an “unprecedented wave of mass migration.”
Rubio also offered some lighter moments, mentioning Europe’s cultural contributions like ancient universities, scholarship, and even The Beatles and The Rolling Stones, which drew laughter from the audience. He stressed, “We believe Europe must survive,” emphasizing the “intertwined” destinies of the U.S. and Europe, shaped by the history of two world wars.
The event, titled “The U.S. in the World,” was attended by several American lawmakers, including Representative Nancy Pelosi, Senator Mark Kelly, and Senator Lindsey Graham. Speaker Mike Johnson had previously canceled the official House delegation’s travel due to federal agency shutdowns, suggesting Pelosi attended independently. Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez also made her own way to the conference and spoke on Friday.
On Friday evening, Rubio held a meeting with Syria’s foreign minister, Asaad al-Shaibani. The State Department later confirmed that Rubio “affirmed the United States’ support for a Syria that is stable, at peace with its neighbors, and protects the rights of all its ethnic and religious minority groups.” Prior to his speech, Rubio had a half-dozen meetings with senior officials from various European nations, China, and Syria. He discussed President Trump’s intentions regarding Greenland with the prime ministers of Denmark and Greenland, and addressed the Ukraine war, which Germany’s Chancellor Merz deemed the most pressing issue, with him.
Rubio’s presence at the Munich Security Conference marks his third attendance – once as a senator and last year as Secretary of State, a role in which he leads the Trump administration’s delegation. He anticipated a “well received” speech from the predominantly European audience, a stark contrast to the widely criticized address delivered by Vice President JD Vance last year.