Münchner Sicherheitskonferenz 2026: Rubios Rede und aktuelle Updates im Ticker

Update, 10:55 AM: European Union High Representative Kaja Kallas dismissed criticism of Europe voiced by representatives of the U.S. Government. She described the accusations as baseless during remarks at the Munich Security Conference on Sunday. “Unlike some may believe, decadent Europe is not on the verge of its civilization’s demise,” she added.

“The message we have heard is that America and Europe are intertwined, have been in the past, and will be in the future. I think that is important,” Kallas said. It’s clear, “that we do not agree on all issues, and that will remain so,” she continued.

Update, 8:25 AM: Hope for the continuation of transatlantic relations: The conciliatory tone from U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio at the Munich Security Conference has been met with relief in Europe. “There was definitely a sigh of relief in the room,” EU High Representative Kaja Kallas told ARD’s Tagesschau in an interview. “It was good to hear that. And to have the confirmation that the transatlantic ties are there,” she added. Rubio’s speech at the MSC was highly anticipated, following periods of significant tension with the Trump administration on many issues. The security conference concludes on its third day Sunday, with Kallas herself scheduled to speak at the close of the event.

Munich Security Conference: Speeches by Kallas and Lagarde Expected

Update, February 15, 6:16 AM: The 62nd Munich Security Conference concludes today in Munich. The third and final day of the international meeting on foreign and security policy will feature speeches by EU High Representative Kaja Kallas and President of the European Central Bank (ECB) Christine Lagarde. MSC Chairman Wolfgang Ischinger will deliver a closing address at 1:00 PM.

This year’s MSC was dominated by the crisis in transatlantic relations. The war in Ukraine was another key focus. Parallel to the security conference, a large demonstration against the Iranian leadership took place on Saturday, with 250,000 people participating.

Warning at Munich Security Conference: Denmark Fears Trump Greenland Plan

Update, 10:44 PM: Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen expressed concern that Greenland remains threatened by potential U.S. Takeover plans. Asked at the Munich Security Conference if Trump had changed his position on the Arctic island, she replied, “Unfortunately, I don’t think the desire is the same.” She added that the pressure the U.S. Exerts on Greenland is “completely unacceptable.”

“Everyone is asking us if we think it’s over,” the Prime Minister said, but that is not the case. “We now have a working group. That’s good. We will try to find a solution,” she added. However, “red lines” exist, such as sovereignty and territorial integrity, which must not be crossed. Greenland’s Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen also described the U.S. Pressure as “unacceptable.”

Newsom Gives Trump a Challenge at Munich Security Conference: “Trump is in Retreat”

Update, 9:03 PM: Gavin Newsom, the Governor of California, sees U.S. President Donald Trump in a weakened position. “Donald Trump is in retreat. I think it’s important for people to understand that and be aware of it,” the Democratic politician told the Deutsche Welle on the sidelines of the Munich Security Conference. He said Trump is “historically unpopular” in the U.S. And “is getting weaker and shows himself to be weak.”

Newsom, who is considered a potential presidential candidate for his party in 2028, called for a determined stance against Trump. “If you push back against Trump, if you fight back, fight fire with fire, he gives in,” he said. Trump is skilled at exploiting weaknesses. “What he respects is strength, unity and conviction. And I think that’s what you’re seeing here in Munich,” Newsom added. “The European Union is more united now than it has been in a long time given that it recognizes what is at stake.”

Wadephul Praises Rubio Speech – But Rejects Some of the Trump Minister’s Demands

Update, 6:58 PM: Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul praised the speech by his American counterpart Marco Rubio as a “good start” for future productive dialogue. At the same time, he rejected additional demands. Europe had decided to increase its competitiveness and strength on its own initiative, Wadephul told reporters on the sidelines of the Munich Security Conference. “We don’t need any further suggestions from outside for that.”

The German government is also willing to discuss the issue of illegal migration with the U.S. Side. “But we don’t need any further advice on that either.” Critical minerals, cyberattacks, and the threat from Russia and China are just a few of the common challenges. These should be tackled together. “If that dominates the spirit of cooperation in the future, then I am very confident that we will return to old solidarity.”

Pistorius Criticizes U.S. Stance on NATO at Munich Security Conference

Update, 5:57 PM: Defense Minister Boris Pistorius criticized the U.S. Government’s behavior under President Donald Trump towards NATO. He emphasized: “Questioning the territorial integrity and sovereignty of a NATO member state. Excluding European allies from negotiations that are crucial for security on the continent. All of this harms our alliance and strengthens our adversaries.” These statements referred to U.S. Claims on Greenland and the negotiating tactics to end the conflict in Ukraine.

Pistorius emphasized that the U.S. “cannot act alone in today’s world of rising powers.” Cooperation with over 30 other states within NATO makes the U.S. “stronger.” At the same time, the alliance must also “make sense” for Europe.

Pistorius at Munich Security Conference: Warning to U.S. Government Against Going It Alone

Update, 4:59 PM: Defense Minister Boris Pistorius warned the U.S. Government against pursuing a policy of unilateral action. In the long term, this will not be successful in a world where major powers compete, the SPD politician said during his speech at the Munich Security Conference. He stressed that international organizations must be reformed and strengthened, as U.S. Foreign Minister Marco Rubio had previously demanded. The goal must be to ensure peace and security.

Pistorius takes a realistic and pragmatic view of the new U.S. Defense strategy. For the future of the transatlantic partnership, a fair and clear distribution of burdens is required. “Europe must take the lead in providing robust conventional forces and assume greater responsibility for its own neighborhood, while the U.S. Continues to provide strategic and nuclear backing for the foreseeable future.”

Greens Skeptical After Rubio Speech

Update, 3:44 PM: Green Party leader Franziska Brantner sees no sign of a change of course after Rubio’s speech. “Rubio was friendlier in tone, but tough on substance, still on Trump’s line. For me, this is another sign that we Europeans must become stronger and more independent,” Brantner told the German Press Agency in Munich. She said she saw no reason for relief.

It would be a mistake to lean back now, Brantner said, warning against a false sense of security. “And we really have the task as Europeans to receive our act together and do it ourselves,” she said. She was particularly upset by Rubio’s criticism of free trade.

Standing Ovations After Rubio Speech at Munich Security Conference

Update, 9:11 AM: U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio received a standing ovation after his speech. In the subsequent question-and-answer session, he addressed the Ukraine conflict. The outstanding issues had been narrowed down, but the most difficult questions remained unanswered, Rubio said. He rejected assessments about Russia’s lack of willingness to negotiate – this was unknown. Russia was showing a willingness to talk, and acceptable conditions for Ukraine now needed to be found.

According to Rubio, progress had been made. Further talks are scheduled for Tuesday. At the same time, the U.S. And Europe intensified sanctions against Russia to encourage negotiations. The goal is a just and sustainable negotiated solution.

Rubio: U.S. Has Always Been “A Child of Europe”

Update, 9:57 AM: U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio reaffirmed the transatlantic alliance. “The end of the transatlantic era is neither our goal nor our wish,” he declared. The U.S. Has “always been a child of Europe,” despite its home in the Western Hemisphere.

Rubio pointed to common historical roots – from Italian explorers to English settlers to German immigrants who “significantly improved the quality of American beer.” Regarding NATO, he said: “We have bled and died side by side.” The U.S. Seeks, together with Europe, “the path to a new century of prosperity.”

Rubio Warns Against Deindustrialization and Mass Migration

Update, 9:30 AM: Rubio warned against deindustrialization and mass migration as existential threats to the West. He described deindustrialization as a “foolish” result of a post-war delusion, not an inevitable fate. Mass migration is transforming and destabilizing Western societies and posing “an urgent threat to the fabric of our societies and the survival of our civilization itself.”

At the same time, Rubio emphasized the deep transatlantic connections: common history, Christian faith, culture, language, and past sacrifices. “If we Americans sometimes come across as direct and urgent, it’s because we deeply care about Europe.” The U.S. Wants a strong Europe, as its security is never irrelevant to U.S. National security. Border control is a fundamental act of national sovereignty, not an expression of xenophobia.

Rubio Criticizes Free Trade Model and Climate Policy

Update, 9:11 AM: U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio criticized the Western policy after the Cold War as a “dangerous delusion.” In his speech at the Security Conference, he described the belief in an “end of history” with liberal democracy and a borderless world as a “foolish idea” that ignored human nature and 5,000 years of history.

Rubio concretized his criticism: The West pursued dogmatic free trade, allowed deindustrialization, relocated millions of jobs abroad, and ceded control to rivals. He criticized climate policy as a “climate cult” that impoverishes the population. Unlike JD Vance’s confrontational appearance last year, Rubio framed the criticism as a common Western responsibility: “We made these mistakes together, and now we must move forward together.”

Rubio’s Speech in Munich to be “Extremely Important”

First Report: U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio has arrived in Munich, with his keynote address still to come. Rubio is leading the American delegation instead of U.S. Vice President JD Vance this year. The anticipation for his speech is high, after Vance’s remarks last year caused considerable controversy.

“The old world is gone,” Rubio said before his departure for Europe, as reported by CNN. “We are in a new era of geopolitics, and it requires all of us to reassess what that looks like and what role we will play,” he added.

Munich Security Conference: Rubio in Dual Role

Rubio is not only Secretary of State, but Trump has also appointed him National Security Advisor. This makes Rubio the first person since influential U.S. Politician Henry Kissinger in the 1970s to hold both positions simultaneously. The dual role means that Rubio spends much of his time with Trump in the White House, rather than traveling the world.