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In a significant shift from the often combative rhetoric of the past, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio extended an olive branch to America’s allies during his address at the Munich Security Conference on Saturday. His message was one of calm assurance, suggesting a more balanced yet firm approach from the Trump administration regarding the trans-Atlantic alliance, which has faced strain over the past year.
Rubio emphasized the deep-rooted historical connections between the United States and Europe, underscoring that these bonds will endure despite America’s intent to redefine its relationships and the global institutions established in the aftermath of World War II. This commitment was aimed at reassuring allies of America’s enduring partnership, even as it seeks to reform some aspects of these alliances.
His remarks came a year after Vice President JD Vance’s controversial speech at the same venue, where he sharply criticized European values. Since then, the Trump administration has made several moves that unsettled allies, including a recent, albeit brief, threat to impose tariffs on European countries in an attempt to assert control over Greenland, a territory under the sovereignty of NATO member Denmark.
Earlier, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz kicked off the conference by advocating for a renewed and cohesive trans-Atlantic relationship. He stressed the necessity for both the United States and Europe to jointly rebuild trust, highlighting that unilateralism is insufficient in a world that no longer operates under the old order. Merz reiterated Europe’s commitment to principles like free speech and environmental concerns, rejecting divisive tactics and economic isolationism.
Reflecting on the aftermath of the Cold War, Rubio contended that the Western triumph had led to a misguided belief in a world of liberal democracies and borderless citizenship. This “euphoria,” he argued, resulted in a perilous illusion that commerce could replace national identities and that global unity had been achieved. His speech called for a reevaluation of such notions, suggesting a return to more grounded, realistic international relations.
“We made these mistakes together and now together we owe it to our people to face those facts and to move forward to rebuild,” Rubio said. He said that, under Trump, the U.S. “will once again take on the task of renewal and restoration.”
“This is why we Americans may sometimes come off as a little direct and urgent in our counsel,” he said. “This is why President Trump demands seriousness and reciprocity from our friends here in Europe.”
“In a time of headlines heralding the end of the trans-Atlantic era, let it be known and clear to all that this is neither our goal nor our wish,” Rubio said. “Because for us Americans, our home may be in the Western hemisphere, but we will always be a child of Europe.”
“We have fought against each other, then reconciled, then fought and reconciled again. And we have bled and died side-by-side on battlefields from Kapyong to Kandahar,” Rubio said. “And I’m here today to make it clear that America is charting the path for a new century of prosperity. and that once again, we want to do it together with you, our cherished allies and our oldest friends.”
Rubio said that the United Nations “still has tremendous potential” but that, on today’s most pressing matters, “it has no answers and has played virtually no role.”
Speaking directly after Rubio, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi offered a contrasting view.
“The main reason for the inadequacy of the current international system is not the United Nations itself, but the fact that some countries magnify differences, pursue national priorities … and even revive the Cold War mentality,” he argued. “All these have undermined the basis of trust, worsened the atmosphere of cooperation, and made the operation of international mechanisms difficult.”
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Geir Moulson in Berlin contributed to this report.