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US Secretary of State Marco Rubio called from the podium of the Munich Security Conference for a "revival" of cooperation between the United States and Europe, emphasizing the shared cultural heritage that, according to him, connects both sides of the Atlantic.
In his speech, Rubio aimed to calm the concerns of European leaders, after a year characterized by trade tariffs and threats from President Donald Trump, which had raised questions about the future of NATO and transatlantic relations.
He stressed Washington's desire to cooperate "with our friends here in Europe," speaking of "a sacred heritage, an inextricable bond" between the United States and its European partners. " We belong together ," Rubio declared. " We are not just partners. We are part of the same cultural heritage, of Western civilization. We are bound by centuries of shared history, Christian faith, culture, language and shared sacrifices ," he said.
Referring to President Trump's demands for "seriousness and reciprocity" in international relations, Rubio said that these positions are expressed "because we care deeply" about the partnership with Europe.
His speech came at a sensitive moment, following last month's statements by Trump on Greenland, which caused one of the deepest rifts between the US and Europe in recent decades.
Compared to the harsh tone used a year earlier by Vice President JD Vance, who had accused Europe of restricting freedom of expression and moving away from "fundamental values," Rubio's speech was perceived as more conciliatory.
Munich Conference President Wolfgang Ischinger called Rubio's message "comforting and friendly," saying it brought a "breath of relief" to the room.
However, Rubio echoed some of the US administration's positions, criticizing the dominance of non-Western countries in critical supply chains and green energy policies, which, according to him, aim to "appease a kind of climate cult" and endanger Western economies. He also stressed that Europe and the US face the challenge of mass migration and the risk of "cultural weakening."
" National security is not just a technical issue. What are we protecting? We are protecting a great civilization ," he declared, adding that only through protection and pride in our shared heritage can the West's economic and political future be built.
Reactions were mixed. A German diplomat said it was “not the response we expected,” adding that the speech seemed more aimed at an American audience than a European one. Another European official commented that the message was “MAGA, but without a concrete approach,” noting the lack of clear references to Russia and the war in Ukraine.
On the other hand, German CDU MP Jürgen Hardt stated that "Rubio remains committed to NATO, and this is positive," but stressed that "Europeans will not get involved in American culture wars."
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