Some Europeans welcome Rubio’s warm words, others remain cautious
February 15, 2026, Bavaria, Munich: The logo of the Munich Security Conference can be seen on the chairs in the main hall. Photo: Sven Hoppe/dpa (Photo: Sven Hoppe/image alliance via Getty Images)
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Many European policymakers still appear to be amused by the harsh words US Vice President J.D. Vance said about the region at last year’s Munich Security Conference.
So perhaps it’s not too surprising that US Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s comments at this year’s event on Saturday, underlining the shared heritage, goals and challenges of the US and Europe, brought a sense of relief to European capitals.
“[Rubio] “He made a speech that still reassures us that we stand together in this partnership between Europe and the United States,” German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul told CNBC in an interview on the sidelines of the conference. “Of course there are some questions we need to discuss, but at the end of the day the message was clear that we have been very successful in the past and in the 21st century we need to do this job once again with new threats, new tests.”
On Saturday, Rubio said the United States has no intention of abandoning its deep alliance with Europe and wants the region to succeed.
“We want Europe to be strong,” he said at the meeting where defense and security officials came together in the German city. “We believe that Europe must survive, because the two great wars of the last century are history’s greatest reminder that our destiny is and always will be intertwined with your destiny.”
Compare this to Vance’s message to the same crowd last year; He was talking about “Europe’s retreat from its most fundamental values, the values it shares with the United States.” He chided his audience about the health of their democracy, immigration policies and freedom of speech.
While Rubio’s tone was more conciliatory than Vance’s, the fundamental issues remained the same, as some conference attendees acknowledged.
“There were some issues that he raised, of course. When it comes to the immigration issue, we would have different answers when it comes to questioning how we regulate our legal framework around digital services here in Europe. And of course, also the question of freedom of expression,” Wadephul said.
US President Donald Trump has frequently criticized Europe for its open immigration policies, being too dependent on the US for its security, and has pushed NATO allies to increase defense spending. The effort to claim Greenland, a Danish territory, has also troubled European leaders in recent months.
“The message we heard (from Rubio) is that America and Europe are intertwined, they have been in the past and will be in the future,” Kaja Kallas, the EU’s chief diplomat, said during a panel discussion on Sunday. “I think that’s important. It’s also clear that we don’t agree on all issues and will continue to do so. But I think we can work from there.”
‘It is hitting Europe’
The recurring theme of this year’s event was a sobering exploration of how Europe can stand on its own, militarily and economically, in the face of challenges from Russia and China as the United States seeks to reorganize the global order it created after the war.
While European leaders agree they need to be less reliant on the United States’ security umbrella and markets, some are uncomfortable with the Trump administration’s more confrontational approach compared to its predecessors.
“I think there were messages for us, and there were messages for the public in America, especially their voters,” Kallas said. he said. “For me, whenever I hear this criticism of Europe, it’s so trendy at the moment, I think, what is the alternative?”
European Commission vice president Kaja Kallas at the Munich Security Conference in Munich, Germany, on Sunday, February 15, 2026. Nuclear deterrence will be the hottest topic at the conference. Photographer: Alex Kraus/Bloomberg via Getty Images
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Others were further critical of Rubio’s comments.
“Frankly, I think the fact that we have it for the Europeans. [been] At the same panel, French European Delegate Benjamin Haddad said, “The fact that Americans are asked to comment on his speech is already part of the problem.”
“We shouldn’t be comforted or shocked by this or that speech. I think the worst lesson we can take from this weekend is to say, ‘I might hold on to some of the love quotes I heard in part of his speech and hit snooze.'”
He said Europe “should just focus on ourselves, focus on what we can control. It should focus on our rearmament, on support for Ukraine, on the threat that Russia poses to all our democracies. It should focus on competitiveness.”
Wadephul told CNBC that efforts to become more independent are ongoing.
“But this is something we have done on our own, and Europe has also learned that if you want more European sovereignty, of course you will get it,” he said.
“And that also means, of course, that we are more independent than we have been in the past. And of course, we are looking for new global partners in the world who are willing to work with Europe, for example, Japan, India, Brazil and others. So, if you are looking for a new global order, I would say that means we keep our alliances, but in addition, we have new global partners and that is a good future for Europe.”
