Marco Rubio calls for ‘new Western Century’ as Europe weighs cost of closer US alignment | World News

A familiar alliance is recast in entirely new terms. At the Munich Security Conference, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio called on Europe to help build what he called the “new Western century”; He said that this project is based on common civilization rather than simple strategic convenience.

“We are part of one civilization, the Western civilization,” Rubio told delegates, placing the transatlantic bond not only in a political but also in a cultural and historical framework.

The call comes after more than a year of harsh rhetoric from President Donald Trump on immigration and identity in Europe. The administration’s latest National Security Strategy warns of the “erasure of civilization” on the continent. Last year, Vice President J.D. Vance used the same Munich platform to criticize Europe’s “liberal values.”

As far-right parties advance across Europe, Rubio’s speech raises a pressing question: Will European leaders adapt to Washington’s new tone or quietly resist it?

What Rubio advocates

Rubio has laid out three priorities for what he sees as a renewed Western alliance: Rolling back what he calls failed “liberalist” policies, stopping mass immigration, and rebuilding industrial power to reduce dependence on China.

The West, he said, had come to believe that the end of the Cold War meant “the end of history,” a world in which liberal democracy would spread unchecked and borders would matter less.

This, he argued, led to complacency and damaging choices.

“We have opened our doors to an unprecedented wave of mass migration that threatens the integrity of our societies, the continuity of our culture, and the future of our people,” Rubio said.

“Mass immigration is not, was not, and is not a trivial problem. It was and continues to be a crisis that has transformed and destabilized societies across the West.”

He also criticized green policies, saying “to appease the climate cult we have imposed on ourselves energy policies that impoverish our people.”

But Rubio’s message wasn’t just about borders. He called on Europe and the United States to rebuild industrial strength together, especially in high-tech sectors.

“The work of this new alliance,” he said, “should not focus only on military cooperation and rolling back the industries of the past. It should also focus on advancing our common interests and new frontiers together, unleashing our ingenuity, creativity, and dynamic spirit to build a new Western century.”

Central to this vision is control over critical minerals and supply chains, areas where China now exercises great influence. Rubio called for “a Western supply chain for critical minerals that is not vulnerable to extortion from other powers.”

Earlier this month, President Trump convened ministers in Washington for a new Critical Minerals Ministerial Meeting aimed at countering Beijing’s control of key resources.

Europe’s cautious response

Rubio’s speech received a standing ovation in the hall. European leaders have clearly emphasized unity. Privately, they refrained from endorsing his sharper language on immigration and liberalism.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen acknowledged the differences in tone.

“We know that some in the (Trump) administration have a tougher tone on these issues,” he said. “But the Minister of Foreign Affairs was very clear: ‘We want a strong Europe in the alliance,’ he said, and we are working hard for this in the European Union.”

French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot made a diplomatic note: “Referring to our common heritage can only be met with applause in Europe.”

But he pointedly added: “We will create a strong and independent Europe. Independently of course, independently of the speeches we heard at the Munich Security Conference, however true they may be.”

German foreign minister John Wadephul called Rubio “a true partner” and underlined the shared commitment to the rules-based order, especially the United Nations.

Finnish foreign minister Elina Valtonen said she was very pleased with the tone and content of the speech.

The message from Europe was clear: partnership yes, but on its own terms.

Why is Europe changing already?

In fact, many European governments have already begun to move in the direction Rubio demands.

Russia’s war in Ukraine and doubts about long-term US support have pushed capitals to increase defense spending. Immigration controls have been tightened across the continent. Denmark has adopted some of Europe’s strictest asylum rules, aiming for “zero asylum seekers”, and the UK is working on this model.

The rise of far-right parties has reshaped political debate. Geert Wilders’ Freedom Party won the 2023 elections in the Netherlands. France’s National Rally, led by Marine Le Pen, came out on top in early voting in 2024. In Britain, Nigel Farage’s Reform UK party has risen sharply in the polls.

Once-fringe ideas such as “immigration,” championed by Austria’s Herbert Kickl and Germany’s Alice Weidel, began to gain traction in conservative circles.

In this context, Rubio’s speech did not fall on deaf ears. But it also bridged deep divisions over identity, democracy and Europe’s post-war values.

Partnership under strain

For many European leaders, the priority in Munich was not ideological harmony but stability in the alliance itself.

The standing ovation that followed Rubio’s statements was meaningful. After months of transatlantic tension, simple confirmation that the United States still sees Europe as a partner was a relief.

But beneath the applause lies uncertainty. Washington is pushing for a tougher, civilization-based alliance. Europe is balancing growing domestic pressures with a desire to defend liberal institutions and strategic autonomy.

Whether a “new Western century” emerges may depend less on the talks than on whether both sides can reconcile these differences without disrupting the alliance that has determined global politics for eight decades.