February 15, 2026, Munich, Bavaria: The logo of the Munich Security Council can be seen on the chairs in the main hall. Photo: Sven Hoppe/dpa (Photo by Sven Hoppe/picture Alliance via Getty Images)
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Many European policymakers appear still to be wiser from US Vice President J.D. Vance’s harsh words for the region at last year’s Munich Security Conference.
So it may not be all that surprising that comments from U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Saturday highlighting the shared traditions, goals and challenges of the United States and Europe at this year’s event provided some relief in European capitals.
“(Rubio) gave a speech that still guarantees that we are united in the European-American partnership,” German Foreign Minister Johann Vardepur told CNBC in an interview on the sidelines of the meeting. “Of course, there are some issues that need to be discussed, but at the end of the day, we’ve been very successful in the past and his message was clear that we should go back to work in the 21st century with new threats and new challenges.”
Rubio said Saturday that the United States has no intention of abandoning its close alliance with Europe and wants the region to succeed.
“We want Europe to be strong,” he told defense and security officials gathered in a German city. “We believe that Europe must survive, because the two great wars of the last century serve as a great historical reminder that ultimately our destiny is and will always be intertwined with yours.”
Compare this to the message Mr. Vance told the same audience last year: “Europe is retreating from some of its most fundamental values, the values we share with the United States.” He lambasted the audience about the health of democracy, immigration policy and free speech.
Mr. Rubio’s tone may have been more conciliatory than Mr. Vance’s, but as some conference participants acknowledged, the fundamental issues remained the same.
“There were, of course, some issues that he raised. We will have different answers when it comes to immigration issues, of course, when it comes to the question of how to organize the legal framework here in Europe in terms of digital services. And, of course, on issues such as freedom of speech,” Wadepulu said.
U.S. President Donald Trump has frequently criticized Europe for being too dependent on the United States for its open immigration policies and security, and has urged NATO allies to increase defense spending. His pursuit of ownership of Greenland, a Danish territory, has also rattled European leaders in recent months.
“The message we heard (from Mr. Rubio) is that the United States and Europe are connected. They were in the past and they will be in the future,” the EU’s chief diplomat, Caja Callas, said during a panel discussion on Sunday. “I think this is important. It’s also clear that we don’t see eye to eye on every issue, and that will continue to be the case. But I think we can work from there.”
“Europe bashing”
A recurring theme at this year’s event is a serious consideration of how Europe can become militarily and economically independent in the face of challenges from Russia and China, as the United States seeks to rebuild the global postwar order it created for itself.
While European leaders acknowledge the need to become less dependent on the U.S. security umbrella and markets, some object to the Trump administration’s more confrontational approach compared to its predecessor.
“I think there was a message for us, and I think there was a message for the American people, especially the voters,” Karas said. “For me, every time I hear this Europe-bashing, which is so trendy right now, I think, what’s the alternative?”
Kaya Kallas, Vice-President of the European Commission, attended the Munich Security Conference on Sunday, February 15, 2026 in Munich, Germany. Nuclear deterrence is expected to be a hot topic at the conference. Photographer: Alex Kraus/Bloomberg via Getty Images
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Others were more critical of Rubio’s comments.
“Frankly, I think the fact that, as a European, I was asked to comment on an American’s speech is already part of the problem,” Benjamin Addad, France’s representative to the European minister, said on the same panel.
“We shouldn’t be relieved or shocked by that speech or that speech. And I think the worst lesson to take from this weekend is, ‘It’s okay to hold on to the words of love that you heard in some of his speeches and hit the snooze button.’
He said Europe should “focus on ourselves and focus on what we can control. Focus on rearmament, support for Ukraine and the threat that Russia poses to all democracies. Focus on competitiveness.”
Wadepulu told CNBC that efforts are underway to become more independent.
“But this is something we do on our own, and Europe has also learned that if we ask for more European sovereignty, we will naturally receive it.”
“And of course it also means that we are more independent than before. And of course we are looking for new global partners around the world who are willing to cooperate with Europe, for example with Japan, India, Brazil, etc. So if we are aiming for a new world order, this means maintaining our alliances, but in addition to that, we have new global partners. This is a good future for Europe.”
