During a significant address at the Munich Security Conference, Secretary of State Marco Rubio urged for a more robust Europe. He highlighted America’s deep European roots while simultaneously criticizing ‘mass migration’ and echoed previous warnings from U.S. officials about ‘civilizational erasure.’
European leaders initially met his comments with a palpable sense of relief. Many had anxiously awaited his speech, fearing a repeat of Vice President JD Vance’s harsh condemnation of the continent’s governance from the previous year’s conference.
Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission, expressed her reassurance: ‘I was very much reassured by the speech of the Secretary of State.’
However, as the day unfolded, many observed that their comfort stemmed more from Rubio’s delivery than from the substance of his message.
Despite Rubio’s more diplomatic and less confrontational approach compared to Vance’s previous address, the core themes of his speech continued to fuel underlying anxieties. It highlighted the ongoing, fundamental shifts within the trans-Atlantic relationship, now a year into President Trump’s second term.
Terry Reintke, a German Member of the European Parliament, noted, ‘Of course it is a different tone — it is less aggressive. But it is not a speech which I take as a call for Europeans to just calm down and not be vigilant anymore. It just didn’t further deteriorate the situation.’
Gabrielius Landsbergis, Lithuania’s former foreign affairs minister, suggested that Rubio’s address merely smoothed over the divisions created by Vance a year prior. He contended that despite the polite demeanor, the central message remained largely unchanged.
In a public statement, Landsbergis asserted, ‘It is now clear that this is all about interests, not common values. And do we actually have common interests?’
During Rubio’s address, the tension outside the conference hall visibly eased. Attendees who had been huddled in apprehensive silence began to chat calmly.
Nevertheless, throughout the day, analyses increasingly scrutinized the specifics of Rubio’s statements. He highlighted shared ancestry and Christian values, contrasting with many Europeans’ emphasis on multiculturalism. He openly criticized nations for ‘outsourcing sovereignty’ to international bodies, a notable point given his platform at the core of the 27-nation European Union. Furthermore, he voiced strong opposition to what he termed a ‘climate cult’ and controversial migration policies.
Bernd Lange, another German Member of European Parliament, summarized his view on social media: ‘Charm offensive in tone, but a clear rejection of international rules.’
On Saturday, European leaders reiterated the necessity of reducing their reliance on the United States. They stressed the importance of enhanced military cooperation and the steadfast protection of their unique belief systems.
During a panel discussion in Munich, immediately following Rubio’s speech, Ms. von der Leyen declared, ‘In today’s fractured world, Europe must become more independent — there is no other choice.’ She subsequently indicated that the European Union plans to strengthen its relationships with ‘closest partners, like the U.K., Norway, Iceland or Canada.’
This call for unity was reinforced by British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, who joined her on the panel.
Starmer asserted that ‘as Europe, we must stand on our own two feet,’ highlighting the imperative for Britain to forge stronger connections with the European Union, an entity its citizens voted to depart from in 2016.
He further elaborated that Britain aims to demonstrate that ‘people who look different to each other can live peacefully together — that this isn’t against the tenor of our times. Rather, it’s what makes us strong.’
The British leader also cautioned Europe against taking excessive solace from Rubio’s address.
He concluded, ‘We shouldn’t get in the warm bath of complacency. That would be a mistake, and it would be a particular mistake for Europe.’