Rubio Reassures Europe Even as He Warns of ‘Dangerous Delusion’

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(Bloomberg) — Secretary of State Marco Rubio sought to reassure Europe of the US commitment to the continent even as he criticized western leaders for what he called a “dangerous delusion” of open borders, free trade and punishing energy policies.

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In a speech to the Munich Security Conference, Rubio called out a belief that the so-called international order would “replace nationhood” where everyone became a citizen of the world. He lambasted what he called the “climate cult.” 

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“This was a foolish idea that ignored both human nature and it ignored the lessons of over 5,000 years of recorded human history, and it has cost us dearly,” Rubio said. “We made these mistakes together, and now together, we owe it to our people to face those facts.”

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At the same time, Rubio’s speech veered between stark criticism and jokes about the quality of American beer, and he stressed a commitment to working with “our cherished allies and oldest friends.” 

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“We believe that Europe must survive, because the two great wars of the last century serve for us as history’s constant reminder that ultimately, our destiny is and will always be intertwined with yours,” he said.

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It was a far more accommodating message than a speech delivered a year by Vice President JD Vance, who suggested that the US was ready to turn away from Europe and warned of a “new sheriff in town” after years in which the Biden administration sought to shore up the US alliance with Europe. 

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Tensions between the US and its allies have only gotten worse in the year since that earlier speech, with repeated tariff fights, President Donald Trump’s renewed threat to take over Greenland, and a National Security Strategy unveiled late last year warned Europe faces “civilizational erasure” due to decades of economic decline as well as political and cultural failures.

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Rubio spoke a day after German Chancellor Friedrich Merz warned against a new era of great power politics and said that Germany and Europe need to bolster their security and independence together, while seeking partnerships with other regions to buoy the liberal order. But, he said, leaders must come to terms with the fact that the world has changed. 

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Rubio’s speech was the most anticipated of the three day conference, with world leaders eager to hear if he would double down on Vance’s tone or try to moderate it. The audience applauded loudly when he concluded and Wolfgang Ischinger, the chairman of the Munich Security Conference, offered immediate praise.

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“Mr. Secretary, I’m not sure you heard the sigh of relief through this hall when we were just listening to what I would interpret as a message of reassurance of partnership,” Ischinger said.

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