On the second day of the Munich Security Conference, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio addressed European leaders, asserting that Europe and America “belong together.” His speech, while echoing the Trump administration’s concerns about Western decline, also struck a surprisingly constructive tone, emphasizing the deep and intertwined friendship between the two continents.
Rubio highlighted the shared destiny forged through events like the two World Wars, a sentiment that was met with applause. “We want Europe to be strong,” he declared, adding that America’s fate would never be irrelevant to Europe’s own. This cooperative stance was notably more diplomatic than the one taken by Vice President JD Vance at the same conference last year, prompting a collective “sigh of relief” from the audience, according to conference chairman Wolfgang Ischinger.
Despite this conciliatory overture, Rubio reiterated key Trump administration talking points. He issued stark warnings about the threats of mass migration and “civilizational erasure,” lamenting what he called a “dangerous delusion” of a borderless world and a globalized citizenship. He described the post-World War II institutions, such as the United Nations, as being in need of deep reform, and asserted that America has “no interest in being polite, and orderly caretakers of the West’s managed decline.” He emphasized the need to reindustrialize Western nations, focusing on areas like commercial space travel, artificial intelligence, and critical mineral supply chains, while also advocating for stricter border controls, clarifying that this stance was not xenophobia.
In contrast to Vance’s scolding of Europeans for marginalizing far-right parties, Rubio focused on shared history and a desire for cooperation. “Under President Trump, the United States will once again take on the task of renewal and restoration,” he stated, expressing a preference to undertake this alongside European partners, though prepared to act alone if necessary.
The preceding day of the conference saw European leaders articulating new visions for the transatlantic alliance, aiming for less reliance on America for defense and commerce, and acknowledging diverging core values. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz called for an overhauled intercontinental friendship, suggesting that U.S. global leadership had been “challenged, and possibly squandered” under President Trump’s second term. French President Emmanuel Macron, in his evening address, indirectly criticized Trump and Vance by complaining that Europe had been unfairly “vilified” regarding immigration and free speech.
During a follow-up discussion, Rubio addressed the Ukraine war, stating, “We don’t know if the Russians are serious about ending the war. We’re going to continue to test it.” He affirmed continued U.S. pressure on Russia through sanctions and weapon sales to aid Ukraine’s defense. On U.S.-China relations, Rubio stressed the necessity of communication, acknowledging that national interests often diverge but cooperation areas exist. He advised European nations to maintain positive conversations with China while remaining vigilant against compromising their own national interests, mentioning a planned summit between Trump and Xi Jinping in April.
In her speech, Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission, subtly critiqued the Trump administration regarding recent tensions over territories, tariffs, and tech regulations. However, she echoed a shared sentiment, stating, “Europe must become more independent – there is no other choice,” and stressed the importance of a “European backbone” in defense and nimbler decision-making. She emphasized closer collaboration with partners like Britain, Norway, Iceland, and Canada, while agreeing with Rubio that a strong Europe benefits the transatlantic bond.
Key issues also discussed at the conference included:
- Ukraine: Rubio notably skipped a meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, as negotiations between Ukraine and Russian officials are slated to resume in Geneva with little prior progress.
- Greenland: The prime ministers of Denmark and Greenland, after meeting with Rubio, were scheduled to address the conference. The Trump administration continues to pursue an expanded U.S. presence or greater control over the autonomous Danish territory, which President Trump has repeatedly expressed a desire to own.
- Nuclear weapons: While American officials reaffirmed the U.S.’s long-standing commitment to providing a nuclear shield for NATO allies, Germany’s Chancellor Merz revealed that his country had initiated discussions with France, a nuclear power, about establishing an independent European nuclear deterrent.
Rubio’s speech also acknowledged the significant cultural contributions of Europe, from ancient universities to music icons like The Beatles and The Rolling Stones, which garnered a positive reaction from the audience. However, some observers noted that his praise for historical European immigration, such as German immigrants who “dramatically improved the quality of our beer,” was not clearly reconciled with his warnings about contemporary mass migration.