Rubio’s Munich speech signals softer US tone, but ‘Trumpian’ themes persist

At the Munich Security Conference, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio delivered a speech that European leaders cautiously welcomed as warmer and more conciliatory than previous remarks by U.S. officials, including Vice President JD Vance in 2025.

While Rubio softened the tone, he maintained a firm “Trumpian” narrative emphasizing national strength, Western civilization, and American leadership.

Rubio urged Europe to accelerate defense spending and military development, warning that without action, the continent risked “civilizational erasure.”

He stressed that nations — not institutions — are the drivers of global stability, framing the U.S. as a muscular guardian of Western values and culture, dw.com reports.

Despite his softer delivery, Rubio reinforced the administration’s positions on climate policy, immigration, and technological oversight, asserting that the U.S. does not view these issues through a liberal internationalist lens.

European leaders acknowledged the more moderate tone. German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul described Rubio’s remarks as a “different category” compared with last year, while European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen praised the emphasis on a stronger Europe as complementary to trans-Atlantic security.

UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer noted that Rubio’s speech aligned with the view that Europe has historically underinvested in its own defense capabilities.

However, some European officials, such as Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski, criticized the lack of focus on Ukraine, pointing out that Russian aggression remains the continent’s most urgent security challenge.

Sikorski stressed that the U.S. and Europe continue to perceive threats differently, even as Rubio’s speech reinforced the notion of shared Western heritage, values, and a commitment to revitalizing the trans-Atlantic alliance.

Rubio repeatedly invoked the concept of civilization, framing Europe and the U.S. as “unique, distinctive, and irreplaceable” partners.

His address sought to maintain unity with Europe while advancing a nations-first worldview, echoing key themes of a second Trump administration while signaling a softer diplomatic approach.