15 February 2026, Bavaria, Munich: The emblem of the Munich Safety Convention may be seen on the chairs in the principle corridor. Picture: Sven Hoppe/dpa (Picture by Sven Hoppe/image alliance by way of Getty Pictures)
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Many European policymakers seem to nonetheless be smarting from U.S. Vice President JD Vance’s robust phrases concerning the area ultimately 12 months’s Munich Safety Convention.
So, it is maybe not too shocking that U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s feedback on Saturday at this 12 months’s occasion underscoring the U.S. and Europe’s frequent heritage, objectives and challenges have come as one thing of a reduction in European capitals.
“[Rubio] delivered a speech which nonetheless assured us that we stand collectively on this partnership between Europe and the US,” German Overseas Minister Johann Wadephul instructed CNBC in an interview on the sidelines of the convention. “In fact, there are some questions which we should focus on, however in the long run of the day, his message was clear that we had been so profitable prior to now, and we should always do the job as soon as once more with new threats, with new assessments within the twenty first century.”
On Saturday, Rubio stated the U.S. has no intention of abandoning its deep alliance with Europe and desires the area to succeed.
“We wish Europe to be sturdy,” he instructed the gathering of protection and safety officers within the German metropolis. “We consider that Europe should survive, as a result of the 2 nice wars of the final century serve, for us, as historical past’s nice reminder, that finally, our future is, and can all the time be, intertwined with yours.”
Distinction that to Vance’s message to the identical crowd final 12 months, when he spoke of the “retreat of Europe from a few of its most elementary values, values shared with the US of America.” He lambasted his viewers concerning the well being of their democracies, their migration insurance policies and freedom of speech.
Whereas Rubio’s tone might need been extra conciliatory than Vance’s, the underlying points remained the identical, as some convention attendees acknowledged.
“In fact, there have been some points he raised. We’d reply otherwise in relation to the migration drawback, when it comes, in fact, to query how we manage our authorized framework right here in Europe with regard to the digital companies. And naturally, additionally with the query of freedom of speech and so,” Wadephul stated.
U.S. President Donald Trump has steadily criticized Europe for its open migration insurance policies, for being too reliant on the U.S. for its safety and has pushed NATO allies to spice up protection spending. His pursuit of possession of Greenland, a Danish territory, has additionally rattled European leaders in current months.
“The message we heard (from Rubio) is that America and Europe are intertwined, they’ve been prior to now and will likely be sooner or later,” the EU’s chief diplomat, Kaja Kallas, stated at a panel dialogue on Sunday. “I feel that is necessary. It’s also clear that we do not see eye-to-eye in all the problems and that it will stay the case. However I feel we are able to work from there.”
‘Europe bashing’
A recurring theme at this 12 months’s occasion has been an earnest investigation into how Europe can stand by itself two toes, militarily and economically, within the face of challenges from Russia and China whereas the U.S. seeks to remodel the worldwide post-war order it created.
Whereas European leaders acknowledge they need to turn into much less depending on the U.S.’s safety umbrella and markets, some bristle on the Trump administration’s extra confrontational method in comparison with its predecessors.
“I feel there have been messages for us, and there have been messages for the general public in America, particularly their constituents,” Kallas stated. “For me, each time I hear this European bashing, it is very in style proper now, I am considering of what’s the various?”
Kaja Kallas, vp of the European Fee, on the Munich Safety Convention in Munich, Germany, on Sunday, Feb. 15, 2026. Nuclear deterrence is about to be a sizzling subject on the convention. Photographer: Alex Kraus/Bloomberg by way of Getty Pictures
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Others had been much more crucial of Rubio’s feedback.
“To be frank, I feel the truth that we have now, for Europeans, [been] requested to touch upon the speech by the People, is already a part of the issue,” Benjamin Haddad, France’s Minister Delegate for Europe, stated on the identical panel.
“We should always not both be relieved or shocked by this or that speech. And I feel the worst lesson we might draw from this weekend is to say ‘I can cling to some love phrases I heard in a part of his speech and push the snooze button.'”
He stated Europe ought to “simply give attention to ourselves, give attention to what we are able to management. Concentrate on our rearmaments, on the assist for Ukraine, and the risk that Russia poses to all of our democracies. Concentrate on competitiveness.”
Wadephul instructed CNBC that work to turn into extra impartial is underway.
“However that is what we’re doing on our personal, and Europe has additionally discovered that, in fact, in case you ask for extra European sovereignty, you’ll obtain it,” he stated.
“And that additionally implies that, in fact, we’re extra impartial than we had been prior to now. And naturally, we’re searching for new international companions on this planet that are prepared to work along with Europe, for example, Japan, India, Brazil and so forth. So that is, I’d say, if you’re trying to a brand new international order, this implies we preserve our alliances, however moreover, we have now new international companions, and this can be a good future for Europe.”
