Rubio to Europe: We Want Allies Who Can Defend Themselves

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio opened his address at the Munich Security Conference 2026 by underscoring the historic partnership between Europe and the United States.

“For us Americans, our home may be in the Western Hemisphere—but we will always be a child of Europe,” Rubio said, adding that the transatlantic alliance once “saved the world” from past threats. “We belong together.”

Yet his message combined reassurance with resolve. While stating that Washington prefers to act “together with you, our friends here in Europe,” Rubio emphasized that the United States is prepared to act alone if necessary.

A Stronger, Self-Reliant Europe

Rubio made clear that the Trump administration believes the alliance must evolve.

“We want allies who can defend themselves so no adversaries will feel inclined to challenge our collective strength,” he said.

He rejected what he described as a posture of managed decline. “We have no interest in being polite and orderly caretakers of the West’s managed decline,” Rubio stated. Instead, he called for renewal, saying the US seeks to “revitalize an old friendship.”

The top US diplomat added that Washington does not want European allies to be “shackled by guilt and shame,” but rather “proud of their culture and their heritage” and ready to defend it. He also stressed the importance of border control, arguing that mass migration threatens social cohesion and sovereignty if left unmanaged.

Ukraine: Testing Moscow’s Intentions

On Ukraine, Rubio said Washington would continue exploring the possibility of a peace settlement but remains uncertain about Russia’s intentions.

“We don’t know if the Russians are serious about ending the war. They say they are,” he said during a Q&A session. “What we can’t answer—but we are going to continue to test—is an outcome Ukraine can live with and Russia can accept. That’s been elusive to this point.”

His remarks come as US President Donald Trump pushes for both Kyiv and Moscow to make concessions to reach a negotiated settlement. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, also present in Munich, has questioned whether Russian President Vladimir Putin genuinely seeks to end the conflict.

China and Global Competition

Rubio also addressed US-China relations, arguing that engagement is a strategic necessity.

“It would be geopolitical malpractice not to engage in conversations with China,” he said, acknowledging that national interests will frequently clash. “The goal of diplomacy is to navigate the times when our national interests come into conflict, always striving to do so peacefully.”

At the same time, he signaled a tougher stance on international law and global stability, warning that actors who threaten citizens and violate norms cannot shield themselves behind legal abstractions.

A Century of Shared Destiny?

Looking ahead, Rubio framed the moment as a crossroads for the West.

“Yesterday is over. The future is inevitable, and our destiny together awaits,” he said. “America is charting the path toward a new century of prosperity—and once again, we want to do it together with you.”

He concluded by reaffirming deep cultural and spiritual ties between the US and Europe, stressing that their destinies remain intertwined.

The speech signaled a recalibrated transatlantic approach: partnership, but with sharper expectations; unity, but with renewed demands for sovereignty, resilience and shared burden.