Munich, Feb 14 (.) Opening his much-viewed address at the Munich Security Conference, the US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, invoked the long-standing historic partnership between the US and Europe, an alliance which he said had “saved the world” from many a threat in the past, while indicating that it now must prepare itself for the future.
“While we are prepared, if necessary, to do this alone, it is our preference and it is our hope to do this with you, our friends here in Europe,” Rubio stated, addressing the delegates gathered in Germany.
Emphasising the importance of an alliance between the two powers, long noted to be rooted in strength, and now increasingly under strain by the aggressive stance of President Donald Trump, Rubio said “We belong together,” further underscoring a historic bond, he said, was one rooted in a shared history, values, customs and sacrifice.
Making his remarks at a pivotal and very delicate moment for the heavily strained transatlantic alliance, Rubio acknowledged Washington’s recent exertion of pressure, saying that it can sometimes be “direct and urgent” in its counsel, though he nonetheless reassured European leaders that the Trump administration remained committed to honouring the alliance, and sought to bolster it even further, as per CNN.
However, he also made it clear that the White House now expects Europe to now take greater responsibility for upholding its own security. “We want allies who can defend themselves so no adversaries will feel inclined to challenge our collective strength,” he said, echoing longstanding calls from Trump for higher European defence spending and more robust military capabilities within NATO.
Striking a surprising contrast to the scene just one year ago, when Vice President JD Vance stood at the same podium and delivered a bombastic rejection of liberal orthodoxies that have prevailed in Western Europe since World War II, resulting in Vance being met with a stone-faced audience, at times eliciting shocked audible gasps from the crowd of shocked attendees.
Rubio similarly reinforced the Trump administration’s intention to disrupt the international status-quo, though unlike Vance, he framed that change as one necessary to ensure the continuation of a strong transatlantic alliance, striking in the process, a noticeably far lesser adversarial tone than Vance, which his European audience seemed to appreciate.
The top US diplomat, further highlighting the importance of the alliance remarked “Our home may be in the Western Hemisphere, but we will always be a child of Europe,” a statement which prompted great applause from spectators, who appeared relieved.
Even as he called for change, Rubio’s message was clear; Washington wants a recalibrated alliance, one in which Europe is stronger, more self-reliant and better prepared to confront regional threats alongside the US.
Regarding the issue of the Russia–Ukraine war, the diplomat said that Washington would continue its efforts to broker a settlement between Moscow and Kyiv, but also voiced uncertainty over Moscow’s intentions, noting that Washington was not sure “if the Russians are serious about ending the war.”
Remarking that Washington “can’t answer” that question, it will continue to test “an outcome Ukraine can live with and Russia can accept,” he added.
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