U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio called for a “revitalization” of the alliance with Europe on Saturday, February 14, 2026, but insisted any renewed partnership must be on terms dictated by the Trump administration. The remarks, delivered at the Munich Security Conference, reach a year after Vice President JD Vance’s sharply critical address to the same forum sparked concerns about a transatlantic rift.
Rubio defended the administration’s immigration policies during his speech, stating, “Mass immigration is a crisis that is transforming and destabilizing Western societies.” He continued, “This proves not xenophobia or hatred, it is a matter of national sovereignty… It is an urgent threat to our societies and civilization.”
The Secretary of State framed the alliance with Europe as a choice, not a necessity for the United States. “We are prepared to [go] alone but our preference is to do so together with our friends in Europe,” Rubio said. He characterized the alliance as one of “civilization.”
Rubio emphasized the desire for strong allies, stating, “We do not want our allies to be weak, because that will make us weaker… We do not want to separate, but to revitalize the alliance.” Still, he made it clear that under President Trump, the alliance must be established on terms set by the United States, whether regarding issues like Gaza or Venezuela.
Aligning with the administration’s National Security Strategy, Rubio presented a vision of a Europe in decline, one that apologizes for its past and opens its borders to immigration. “We will always be children of Europe,” he proclaimed. He concluded his address, which drew applause from the audience, stating, “Yesterday is over, the future is inevitable and the future awaits us.”
