Munich security conference live: Marco Rubio addresses European leaders rattled by Trump | Ukraine
important events
Rubio talks about post-war illusion mistakes Europe and the US made ‘together’
rubio “In this delusion, we have embraced a dogmatic vision of free and unfettered trade while deindustrializing, moving millions of jobs abroad, and ceding control to “enemies and competitors”,” he says.
At the same time, he says, “we have increasingly ceded our sovereignty to international institutions, while many countries have invested in huge welfare states at the expense of maintaining the ability to defend themselves.”
Rubio continued to criticize green policies “to appease the climate cult,” saying these policies “impoverish our people even as our competitors exploit oil, coal and natural gas.”
“In search of a borderless world, 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.”
These lines are very similar to J.D. Vance’s broader critiques last year, but are quoted verbatim A lot talking about it differently widespread This is the fault of the entire West and not just a criticism of Europe.
Finally he says:
“We made these mistakes together, and now together, we owe it to our people to face these truths and move forward.”
Rubio says postwar victory gives rise to ‘dangerous illusion’ about end of history
rubio He is currently speaking by drawing on the history of the Munich Security Conference dating back to 1963.
“We come together here today as members of a historic alliance, an alliance that will save and change the world. When this conference began in 1963, it was actually on a continent divided against itself. The line between communism and freedom ran through the heart of Germany,” he says.
He says that “at the time of the first meeting, Soviet communism was in progress” and that “thousands of years of Western civilization remained in the balance.”
“Victory was far from certain at the time, but we were driven by a common cause. We were united not just by what we were fighting for, but by what we were fighting for,” he says.
But he adds:
“The euphoria of this victory led us to the dangerous delusion that we have entered the ‘end of history’ and that every nation will now be a liberal democracy, that being a nation will be replaced by trade and the ties created only by trade, that the rules-based global order, an overused term, will now replace national interests, and that we will live in a world where there are no longer borders and everyone is a citizen of the world.”
“This was a stupid idea that ignored both human nature and the lessons of over 5,000 years of recorded human history, and it cost us a lot,” he says.
Yakup Krupa
in Munich
Before today’s proceedings began, Wolfgang Ischinger, president of the Munich Security Conference, asked the audience to observe a moment of silence to remember all civilians killed in conflicts around the world, including in Ukraine, Sudan, Iran and Gaza.
rubio Next.
Starmer’s Munich speech with EU’s von der Leyen is part of rapidly evolving post-Brexit relations – instant analysis
Yakup Krupa
in Munich
Starmer’s The session is particularly interesting as he will appear on stage with the president of the European Commission. Ursula von der Leyen.
on Friday, he A lot He was busy diplomatically as he met with many European leaders in various formats (E3, Berlin), He seeks to defend Britain’s place in the new, emerging global order/disorder.
According to Downing Street’s speech, he will directly address the obvious Brexit angle, saying:
“We are no longer the Britain of the Brexit years. Because we know that in dangerous times we will not turn inward and take control, we will surrender. And I won’t let that happen.
His intervention comes as the UK hopes to reap further benefits from a €90bn (£78bn) EU loan to Ukraine by supplying defense equipment to Ukraine financed by the loan. This could be possible if the UK government agrees to make a “fair” contribution to EU borrowing costs, the bloc said.
Starmer also recently signaled that he wants to restart negotiations on a defense deal with the EU. Negotiations to join the EU’s €150 billion Security Action for Europe (Secure) program failed last year.
Let’s see if he makes any of these points while sitting next to von der Leyen.
Morning opening: What will the USA say?
Yakup Krupa
in Munich
Guten Tag!
US secretary of state Marco Rubio He will open the second day of the Munich Security Conference this morning and present the US reaction to Germany’s speeches on Friday. Friedrich Merz and France Emmanuel Macron It’s about the difficult state of transatlantic relations.
The question on everyone’s mind is whether he or she will choose to have a confrontational conversation similar to what US vice president JE Vance did last year, or Will he try to mend the already rocky relationship? using some of his diplomatic charm.
The apparent paradox at the heart of his speech is that while Rubio is speaking to (mostly) Europeans, he will also be heard in the United States, including its president. DonaldTrump, who wants to see their agenda expressed in clear, even crude terms. Walking is a very difficult process for Rubio.
What will it mean in practice? We will find out soon.
Whatever it’s worth, Before leaving for Munich, Rubio said that while Europeans want and appreciate honesty, they will also like what he has to say. He is understood to have repeated that declaration to some of the European delegations he met in Munich yesterday. Let’s see what it means in practice.
But he is not the only big name we will hear from the main stage, as he will be followed by the Chinese foreign minister. Wang YiPresident of the European Commission Ursula Von der Leyen and British prime minister Keir Starmer.
Starmer is expected to tell the conference that Europe is a “sleeping giant” and should rely less on the US for its defence.
“I’m talking about A vision of European security and greater European autonomy that does not herald US withdrawal, but fully responds to the call for greater burden sharing and rebuilds the bonds that have served us so well,” he will say.
We It will give you every line of all the important speeches at MSC, Here’s some color from behind the scenes and an initial analysis of what we’re hearing from global leaders.
His Saturday, February 14, 2026, his Yakup Krupa here and this Europe Live.
Good morning.
