Secretary of State Marco Rubio cast the United States as the “child of Europe” in a message of unity on Saturday, offering some reassurance as well as leveling more criticism at allies after a year of turmoil in transatlantic relations.
Rubio was addressing the annual Munich Security Conference, where Europe’s leading powers have tried to project their own independence and strength while straining to keep an alliance with the U.S. under President Donald Trump alive.
The speech delivered a degree of reassurance to European countries who fear being left in the lurch on anything from the war in Ukraine to international trade ructions in a rapidly shifting global order.
But it was short on concrete commitments and made no mention of Russia, raising questions on whether Rubio’s more emollient tone than that of Vice President JD Vance at the same event a year ago would change the underlying dynamics.
“In a time of headlines heralding the end of the transatlantic era, let it be known and clear to all that this is neither our goal nor our wish, because for us Americans, our home may be in the Western Hemisphere, but we will always be a child of Europe,” Rubio said.
“For the United States and Europe, we belong together,” he said in a speech that drew a standing ovation at the end.
