Rubio in Munich: The End of the Old World Order & a New Transatlantic Alliance

Although, Rubio also made it clear that the era of the old, liberal world order is over. “Yesterday is already gone,” he said, adding before traveling to Munich that “the old world is gone, we live in a fresh era of geopolitics.” The Secretary of State outlined a critical view of globalization, arguing it had contributed to the decline of both America and Europe. He suggested the end of the Cold War fostered a “naive belief” that the world had entered an era of peace, leading to reduced military spending.

Rubio asserted that the West had sacrificed its industry in pursuit of free trade and had long ignored unfair trade practices by other nations. He also criticized high energy prices, attributing them to what he called a “cult of climate.”

Rubio also warned that an ideology of open borders threatened the cultural identity of the West through mass immigration, stating, “Forces of civilizational obliteration threaten both the United States and Europe.”

In his address, Rubio underscored the historical and civilizational bonds connecting the U.S. And Europe, attempting to redefine the transatlantic relationship around a shared identity rooted in the “Make America Great Again” ideology – emphasizing common Christian faith and Western culture.

From Munich to Hungary and Slovakia

Evidence of this approach includes the activities of Under Secretary of State Sarah Rogers, who is responsible for liaising with right-wing movements in Europe and providing financial support to think tanks sympathetic to the MAGA movement. Rubio’s travel plans also suggest a different course. Following Munich, he is scheduled to travel to Hungary and Slovakia, both European Union member states governed by populist leaders who are seen as anti-European and friendly towards Russia.

Rubio also expressed disdain for what he considers important to Europeans. “You can no longer prioritize so-called rule-based order over the needs of our citizens,” he said. Up to his speech, European leaders had primarily been discussing how to preserve as much of that rule-based order as possible – the system that has brought Europe prosperity and peace – in the face of new threats from major powers pursuing spheres of influence.

Rubio also pointed out that the United Nations had failed in key areas. It had not been able to secure a ceasefire in Gaza, prevent Iran from pursuing a nuclear weapon, bring Kyiv and Moscow to negotiations, or hold former Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro accountable for “narco-terrorism.”

A “Passive-Aggressive Message”

Rubio’s repeated assurances of a shared Western heritage and identity between Europe and the U.S., and of a common “destiny” linking the two sides, could not obscure the fact that his speech contained many controversial statements and ideological assumptions about Europe. Assumptions that are difficult to reconcile with how many Europeans view their continent and the challenges it faces.

“Rubio’s message to Europeans is as passive-aggressive as many other messages from the Trump administration in recent days,” security expert Nico Lange noted on X. He argued that Rubio appeared to care about Europe while simultaneously pressing it, presenting it with a fait accompli on security issues and lecturing it on migration and cultural issues.

In that regard, Rubio’s speech on the danger of “civilizational obliteration” was another lecture delivered to Europeans, revealing the MAGA movement’s obsession with identity and cultural issues.