15 February 2026, Bavaria, Munich: The brand of the Munich Safety Convention may be seen on the chairs in the primary corridor. Photograph: Sven Hoppe/dpa (Photograph by Sven Hoppe/image alliance through Getty Photos)
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Many European policymakers seem to nonetheless be smarting from U.S. Vice President JD Vance’s powerful phrases in regards to the area finally 12 months’s Munich Safety Convention.
So, it is maybe not too shocking that U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s feedback on Saturday at this 12 months’s occasion underscoring the U.S. and Europe’s frequent heritage, targets and challenges have come as one thing of a aid in European capitals.
“[Rubio] delivered a speech which nonetheless assured us that we stand collectively on this partnership between Europe and the USA,” German International Minister Johann Wadephul informed CNBC in an interview on the sidelines of the convention. “After all, there are some questions which we should talk about, however in the long run of the day, his message was clear that we had been so profitable previously, and we should always do the job as soon as once more with new threats, with new checks within the twenty first century.”
On Saturday, Rubio stated the U.S. has no intention of abandoning its deep alliance with Europe and desires the area to succeed.
“We wish Europe to be sturdy,” he informed the gathering of protection and safety officers within the German metropolis. “We consider that Europe should survive, as a result of the 2 nice wars of the final century serve, for us, as historical past’s nice reminder, that in the end, our future is, and can at all times be, intertwined with yours.”
Distinction that to Vance’s message to the identical crowd final 12 months, when he spoke of the “retreat of Europe from a few of its most elementary values, values shared with the USA of America.” He lambasted his viewers in regards to the well being of their democracies, their migration insurance policies and freedom of speech.
Whereas Rubio’s tone may need been extra conciliatory than Vance’s, the underlying points remained the identical, as some convention attendees acknowledged.
“After all, there have been some points he raised. We’d reply in another way relating to the migration drawback, when it comes, in fact, to query how we arrange our authorized framework right here in Europe with regard to the digital companies. And naturally, additionally with the query of freedom of speech and so,” Wadephul stated.
U.S. President Donald Trump has ceaselessly criticized Europe for its open migration insurance policies, for being too reliant on the U.S. for its safety and has pushed NATO allies to spice up protection spending. His pursuit of possession of Greenland, a Danish territory, has additionally rattled European leaders in current months.
“The message we heard (from Rubio) is that America and Europe are intertwined, they’ve been previously and can be sooner or later,” the EU’s chief diplomat, Kaja Kallas, stated at a panel dialogue on Sunday. “I feel that is vital. It’s also clear that we do not see eye-to-eye in all the problems and that it will stay the case. However I feel we will work from there.”
‘Europe bashing’
A recurring theme at this 12 months’s occasion has been an earnest investigation into how Europe can stand by itself two toes, militarily and economically, within the face of challenges from Russia and China whereas the U.S. seeks to transform the worldwide post-war order it created.
Whereas European leaders acknowledge they have to grow to be much less depending on the U.S.’s safety umbrella and markets, some bristle on the Trump administration’s extra confrontational method in comparison with its predecessors.
“I feel there have been messages for us, and there have been messages for the general public in America, particularly their constituents,” Kallas stated. “For me, each time I hear this European bashing, it’s extremely in style proper now, I am pondering of what’s the various?”
Kaja Kallas, vp of the European Fee, on the Munich Safety Convention in Munich, Germany, on Sunday, Feb. 15, 2026. Nuclear deterrence is about to be a scorching matter on the convention. Photographer: Alex Kraus/Bloomberg through Getty Photos
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Others had been much more vital of Rubio’s feedback.
“To be frank, I feel the truth that we’ve got, for Europeans, [been] requested to touch upon the speech by the Individuals, is already a part of the issue,” Benjamin Haddad, France’s Minister Delegate for Europe, stated on the similar panel.
“We should always not both be relieved or shocked by this or that speech. And I feel the worst lesson we may draw from this weekend is to say ‘I can cling to some love phrases I heard in a part of his speech and push the snooze button.'”
He stated Europe ought to “simply deal with ourselves, deal with what we will management. Concentrate on our rearmaments, on the assist for Ukraine, and the menace that Russia poses to all of our democracies. Concentrate on competitiveness.”
Wadephul informed CNBC that work to grow to be extra unbiased is underway.
“However that is what we’re doing on our personal, and Europe has additionally discovered that, in fact, if you happen to ask for extra European sovereignty, you’ll obtain it,” he stated.
“And that additionally signifies that, in fact, we’re extra unbiased than we had been previously. And naturally, we’re searching for new international companions on the planet that are prepared to work along with Europe, as an example, Japan, India, Brazil and so forth. So that is, I’d say, if you’re seeking to a brand new international order, this implies we hold our alliances, however moreover, we’ve got new international companions, and it is a good future for Europe.”
