We ‘belong together,’ Rubio tells Europe but warns allies should ‘defend themselves’
We ‘belong together,’ Rubio tells Europe but warns allies should ‘defend themselves’
• Rubio’s speech: Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the US and Europe “belong together” during his remarks at the Munich Security Conference. The tone of his speech stood in stark contrast to the one delivered last year at the summit by US Vice President JD Vance.
• New world order: Rubio also made clear the Trump administration believes the path forward requires a shift in how the US-European alliance works together, adding: “We want allies who can defend themselves so no adversaries will feel inclined to challenge our collective strength.”
• Also on hand: More than 50 members of Congress and other US dignitaries are in Munich, including prominent Democrats who have sought to outline their own foreign policy visions — and a potential alternative path forward for US leadership.
Rubio says US is unsure if Russia is serious about ending Ukraine war
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on Saturday Washington would strive to seek a peace deal in Ukraine, but was unsure if Moscow really wanted to end the fighting.
“We don’t know if the Russians are serious about ending the war. They say they are,” Rubio said during a question and answer session following his remarks at the Munich Security Conference on Saturday. “What we can’t answer, but we are going to continue to test, is an outcome Ukraine can live with and Russia can accept. That’s been elusive to this point.”
US and Western intelligence agencies have consistently questioned whether Russian President Vladimir Putin has any interest in stopping the conflict and assessed he maintains his maximalist goals even while engaging the US and Ukraine in negotiations.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, who also attended the conference on Friday, said he believes Putin does not want to end the war and questioned his willingness to make concessions. US President Donald Trump has consistently insisted that both Moscow and Kyiv must make concessions to reach a deal to end the fighting, and that a compromise must be reached again soon.
Asked about Trump’s push for Ukraine to make more concessions in order to reach a deal with Russia, Zelensky said Friday that the US president has pressured both sides to compromise – despite the fact that Putin started the war by invading his country – but questioned Russia’s intentions.
Despite his conciliatory tone, Rubio stresses reality of new world order
While Secretary of State Marco Rubio praised the historical importance of a strong US-European alliance, he also made clear the Trump administration believes the path forward requires a shift in how those countries work together.
“We want allies who can defend themselves so no adversaries will feel inclined to challenge our collective strength,” Rubio said.
The Trump administration has stressed that Europe must take on more responsibility for defending itself against regional threats rather than relying so heavily on American assistance.
“We want allies who are proud of their culture, their heritage … and together with us are willing and able to defend it,” Rubio said Saturday.
“For we in America have no interest in being polite and orderly caretakers of the West’s managed decline. We do not seek to separate, but to revitalize an old friendship,” the top US diplomat added.
Rubio strikes a very different tone to Vance’s blast at Munich one year ago
The tone of Rubio’s remarks on Saturday stand in stark contrast to those delivered at the Munich Security Conference just one year ago by US Vice President JD Vance, in which he harshly criticized Europe for relying too heavily on US support.
Vance’s speech still lingered in the minds of European leaders in the audience Saturday for Rubio’s remarks – during which he received moments of applause from the audience as he stressed the importance of ensuring a strong alliance between the US and Europe.
At the same time Rubio said the global institutions of the old world order must be “reformed” and “rebuilt,” referring to the Trump administration’s dramatic shift in how the US deals with its foreign partners
