US Secretary of State Marco Rubio urged European nations to strengthen their ties with America, emphasizing the shared heritage and interests between the two sides. However, his speech was met with mixed reactions from European leaders, who expressed relief at a more conciliatory tone but also noted that some of his ideas echoed far-right rhetoric.
Rubio’s address drew applause from the audience, which consisted mainly of Europeans, as he spoke about the shared cultural heritage between the US and Europe. He stressed that countries on both sides of the Atlantic were “heirs to the same great and noble civilization” and mentioned the cultural gifts that Europe had bestowed on the world.
However, Rubio’s speech also conveyed a message that any ruptures between the US and Europe were due to the Trump administration’s view that Europe had strayed too far from its shared culture and vision. He warned about the dangers of “mass migration” and the need for nations to place stricter limits on who enters their borders.
European leaders expressed relief at Rubio’s speech, but also noted that his ideas did not fundamentally change the situation. Terry Reintke, a German member of the European Parliament, said that while Rubio’s tone was less aggressive than Vice President JD Vance’s last year, his message was not a call for Europeans to “just calm down and not be vigilant anymore.”
Ursula von der Leyen, the president of the European Commission, echoed this sentiment, saying that Europe needed to become more independent and self-sufficient in order to protect its interests. Keir Starmer, the British prime minister, added that Europe should not take comfort from Rubio’s remarks and that it was essential to build stronger links with the EU.
Overall, Rubio’s speech marked a shift towards a more conciliatory tone, but also highlighted the ongoing tensions between the US and Europe on issues such as migration, security, and climate change.
Source: https://www.nytimes.com/live/2026/02/14/world/munich-security-conference-rubio