Rubio asks the US and Europe to

Munich -Secretary of State Marco Rubio delivered a message of tranquility in statements at the Munich security conferencecalming some fears that months of harsh rhetoric and political wrangling by the United States had driven a lasting wedge between Washington and its European allies.

“We are not seeking to separate, but to revitalize an old friendship and renew the greatest civilization in the history of humanity,” he said.

Although he admonished European nations for prioritizing social welfare programs over self-defense and for adopting immigration policies that threatened their social cohesion, he framed his criticism as part of a shared reckoning.

“We made these mistakes together, and now together, we owe it to our people to face those facts and move forward, rebuild,” he said.

At last year’s conference, Vice President J.D. Vance He delivered a combative speech that shook European capitals and fueled fears of an acceleration of the transatlantic divide. In contrast, Rubio combined harsh criticism of the post-Cold War order with repeated assertions of shared destiny.

He argued that the postwar “euphoria” had led the West into a “dangerous illusion” of borderless globalization and excessive dependence on international institutions.

“This was a foolish idea that ignored both human nature and the lessons of 5,000 years of recorded human history. It has cost us dearly,” he said.

Still, Rubio paid tribute to what he described as a civilizational bond between the continents.

“In times of headlines announcing the end of the transatlantic era, let it be clear to everyone that it is neither our goal nor our desire,” Rubio said. “For us Americans, our home may be in the Western Hemisphere, but we will always be children of Europe.”

The speech provoked a standing ovation. Conference president Wolfgang Ischinger later said the remarks were generally considered reassuring.

“Mr. Secretary, I’m not sure you heard the sigh of relief in this room,” he told Rubio.

In a brief question-and-answer session, Rubio said efforts to negotiate an end to Russia’s war in Ukraine were continuing, with Another round of talks is expected on Tuesday.

“We don’t know if the Russians really want to end the war; they say they do,” he said. “Let’s keep testing it.”

On China, Rubio said Washington has “an obligation to communicate” with Beijing, even as “fundamental challenges” remain, and emphasized that any engagement must protect U.S. national interests.

Since arriving in Munich, Rubio has met with senior European leaders, including German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, as well as officials from Denmark, Greenland, Poland, Croatia and Moldova. He also met with senior Syrian officials to discuss preserving a ceasefire and protecting minority communities, according to the State Department.

A U.S. official said Rubio did not attend any meetings on support for Ukraine due to scheduling conflicts, although he is expected to meet briefly on Saturday with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

After Munich, Rubio will travel to Bratislava and Budapest, where he is expected to meet with Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban.

Europeans are calm but not complacent

European Union Executive Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said Rubio’s speech was “very reassuring” but noted that “in the administration, some have a tougher tone on these issues,” according to the News.

In his speech at the conference, he stressed that “Europe must become more independent”, also in matters of defence, and insisted on “digital sovereignty” in the continent’s attitude towards hate speech on social media.

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said that “we should not immerse ourselves in the hot bath of complacency,” the News reported. He said the UK must re-forge closer ties with Europe to help the continent “stand on its own two feet” in its own defence, and said there needed to be investments that “take us from over-dependence to interdependence”.

Shortly after Rubio’s remarks, the United Kingdom said it would send its Carrier Strike Group, led by the Royal Navy’s largest warship and including fighter jets, across the North Atlantic and the Arctic. The deployment will visit a US port and US aircraft are expected to operate from the deck of the warship, HMS Prince of Wales. Defense Secretary John Healey said the deployment “will help make Britain war-ready, boost our contribution to NATO and strengthen our operations with key allies, keeping the UK safe at home and strong abroad”.

The conference signaled tensions beyond those of the transatlantic alliance, the News reported.

Speaking after Rubio, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said Beijing was “satisfied” that President Trump respects President Xi Jinping and China, but warned that some voices in the United States are wary of China’s rise.

“We see that some forces and some people are still doing their best to suppress and contain China, and they are still attacking and smearing China by any means,” Wang said, according to the News.

He warned that “the law of the jungle and unilateralism have taken hold” and said that some countries are “even reviving the Cold War mentality.”