Speaking at the Munich Security Conference, Marco Rubio addressed not only Ukraine but also what he described as a broader crisis confronting Europe—from the consequences of globalization to migration, energy policy, and the role of international institutions. The central message of his speech was that Washington has no intention of severing ties with its European allies.
“We are not seeking a rupture; we want to revive an old friendship and renew the greatest civilization in human history,” he said, stressing that the United States continues to view Europe as a partner. At the same time, Rubio once again echoed Donald Trump’s core argument that Europe must take responsibility for its own security—effectively urging European countries to increase their military spending.
A separate section of the speech was devoted to a critique of globalization. According to the secretary of state, the entire approach was fundamentally flawed. “It was a foolish idea that ignored the lessons of more than 5,000 years of human history, and that delusion has cost us dearly,” he said.
Marco Rubio during his speech at the Munich Security Conference. February 14, 2025.
Rubio also delivered a sharp rebuke of the United Nations, accusing the organization of failing to respond effectively to the crises in Gaza and Ukraine. In his assessment, international law is increasingly being used as “cover for those who violate it.” “We do not live in an ideal world, and we cannot continue to allow those who openly and brazenly threaten our citizens and endanger global stability to hide behind abstractions of international law that they themselves routinely violate,” he stressed.
Addressing migration, Rubio said that Western countries had opened the door to an “unprecedented wave of mass migration” that, in his words, undermines social cohesion, cultural continuity, and the future of nations. On energy policy, he separately pointed to constraints driven by what he called a “climate cult,” adding that the United States and Europe “made these mistakes together.”
Last year at the Munich Security Conference, U.S. Vice President Vance delivered a sharply critical address aimed at European countries. This time, Rubio’s tone appeared noticeably softer, yet substantively his message differed little—Europe, in effect, is expected to adapt and change in line with the course of the new American policy.