Munich, Germany — US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has sought to reassure European leaders that Washington remains committed to its long-standing alliance with Europe, despite ongoing disagreements over immigration, trade, climate policy and defence spending.
Speaking at the Munich Security Conference, Rubio said the United States had no intention of walking away from its transatlantic partners, arguing that America and Europe share a deeply interconnected history and future.
“Our destiny will always be intertwined,” Rubio told delegates. “We are not here to separate from Europe, but to revitalise an old friendship and renew what I believe is the greatest civilisation in human history.”
His remarks were closely watched by European officials following months of uncertainty over Washington’s foreign policy direction under President Donald Trump. Rubio’s tone contrasted sharply with the speech delivered by Vice-President JD Vance at the same conference last year, in which European leaders were sharply criticised over democratic standards and governance.
European leaders welcome reassurance
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said Rubio’s address had helped ease concerns about the future of the partnership.
“I was very much reassured by what I heard today,” she told reporters. “The message was clear: the United States wants a strong Europe, and that is something we also want.”
Rubio, the most senior diplomat in the Trump administration, said it was “neither our goal nor our wish” to dismantle the transatlantic alliance, stressing that the US still views Europe as its closest strategic partner.
“For us Americans, our home may be in the Western Hemisphere, but we will always be a child of Europe,” he said. “America is charting a path for a new century of prosperity, and we want to walk that path together with our oldest friends.”
Familiar criticisms resurface
Despite the conciliatory language, Rubio repeated several criticisms frequently voiced by the Trump administration. He argued that Europe’s immigration policies posed a threat to social cohesion, and accused policymakers of allowing what he described as a “climate cult” to dominate economic decision-making.
On trade, Rubio said both sides of the Atlantic had erred by embracing what he called a rigid commitment to unrestricted free trade, suggesting that such policies had undermined domestic industries.
He also reiterated long-standing US demands for European nations to increase defence spending, urging allies to strengthen their military capabilities.
“We want partners who can defend themselves,” Rubio said, “so that no adversary is ever tempted to test our collective strength.”
Calls for reform of global institutions
Rubio used part of his half-hour address to criticise the current system of international co-operation, arguing that it was no longer fit for purpose. He singled out the United Nations, saying it had failed to play a meaningful role in resolving conflicts in Gaza and Ukraine.
He also claimed the organisation had been unable to restrain Iran’s nuclear ambitions, as tensions between Washington and Tehran continue to rise.
In recent weeks, President Trump has threatened military action against Iran if negotiations aimed at curbing its nuclear programme fail. A second round of talks is expected to take place in Geneva next week, hosted by Oman, according to Swiss officials.
Outside the conference venue, German police said around 200,000 demonstrators gathered to protest against the Iranian government, denouncing a recent crackdown on dissent that followed protests earlier this year.
Ukraine and Russia dominate discussions
Rubio said Washington remained uncertain about Moscow’s intentions in Ukraine, stating that it was unclear whether Russia was genuinely interested in ending the war.
“We don’t know if the Russians are serious,” he said. “But we are going to continue to test it.”
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky later told the conference that Ukrainians did not believe Russian President Vladimir Putin would abandon his military ambitions.
“He is a slave to war,” Zelensky said, dismissing the possibility of lasting peace without firm security guarantees.
Zelensky also addressed pressure from the White House to hold presidential elections, which have been suspended under martial law. Responding to reports that elections could be planned as early as May, he said the idea was new to him and lacked public support.
“Nobody supports elections during the war,” he said, adding that Ukraine would require at least two months of a ceasefire and a functioning security framework before voting could safely take place.
Europe urged to strengthen defence
UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer told the conference that Europe must be prepared to defend itself and reduce its reliance on US military power.
“We must stand on our own two feet,” he said, calling for deeper defence co-operation and closer economic alignment between the UK and the European Union.
Starmer announced that the UK, alongside the US, Canada and other allies, would deploy warships, submarines and aircraft to the Arctic and High North as part of a joint security initiative.
The move follows concerns raised by NATO over increased Russian military activity in the Arctic, a region that has gained renewed strategic importance.
President Trump has previously argued that Greenland is vital to US security interests, citing its location between North America and the Arctic. While he has not ruled out taking control of the territory by force, his administration says it prefers a negotiated solution.
Arctic tensions and sovereignty concerns
Denmark’s Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen pushed back against any suggestion that Greenland could be traded or sold, stressing that national sovereignty must be respected.
“Greenland is not for sale,” she said, adding that countries cannot be assigned a price.
Frederiksen joined leaders from Spain and Finland in calling for a unified European response to Russian pressure. Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez said Europe must act decisively but in a co-ordinated way, urging the creation of what he described as a “true European army”.
Finland’s President Alexander Stubb said he did not see an immediate military threat from Russia to Nato territory, but said large-scale Arctic exercises involving 20,000 Nato troops would help prepare for potential scenarios.
Alliance tested but intact
While divisions remain over policy and strategy, Rubio’s speech appeared to signal a renewed effort by Washington to steady relations with Europe after months of tension.
European officials said the challenge now lies in translating words into action, particularly on defence spending, Ukraine support and global security reform.
For now, both sides insist the transatlantic alliance remains intact — strained, but far from broken — as geopolitical pressures continue to test one of the world’s most influential partnerships.
