"Wake Up, Europe": Marco Rubio’s Brutal Reality Check for the Munich Security Conference
"We want allies who are proud of their culture and of their heritage," Rubio said, urging European nations to reject a future of "managed decline" and instead race "boldly into the future".
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio delivered a high-stakes address at the 2026 Munich Security Conference, outlining a vision for a "new Western century" built on national sovereignty, re-industrialization, and a rejection of the post-Cold War "globalist delusion."
Speaking to an audience of European leaders and security officials, Rubio signaled a definitive shift in American foreign policy, prioritizing the tangible interests of citizens over international abstractions.
The End of the ‘Rules-Based Order’
Rubio characterized the period following the Cold War as one of "dangerous delusion," where the West falsely believed that commerce alone would replace nationhood. He argued that the pursuit of a "rules-based global order" often came at the expense of national interests and the security of the working class.
"This was a foolish idea that ignored both human nature and the lessons of over 5,000 years of recorded human history," Rubio stated. He asserted that the West must move beyond the "dogmatic vision" of unfettered trade that led to the de-industrialization of many communities and left critical supply chains vulnerable to adversaries.
Economic and Border Sovereignty
A major theme of the speech was the necessity of "supply chain sovereignty." Rubio called for a collaborative effort to re-industrialize Western economies, focusing on emerging sectors like artificial intelligence, commercial space travel, and critical mineral production to ensure the West remains the master of its own economic destiny.
Turning to domestic stability, Rubio identified mass migration as a civilizational crisis rather than a peripheral issue. He defended the enforcement of national borders as a "fundamental act of national sovereignty" and an essential duty to protect the cultural and social cohesion of Western societies.
Hard Power and the Role of Leadership
The Secretary was critical of the current state of international institutions, specifically the United Nations, noting its inability to resolve modern conflicts.
He pointed to recent American actions in the Middle East and South America as examples of necessary leadership where global bodies had stalled.
A Shared Civilizational Bond
Despite the "direct and urgent" nature of his counsel, Rubio emphasized that the United States remains deeply committed to its relationship with Europe. He grounded the transatlantic alliance not just in military or economic ties, but in a shared "Western civilization" forged by common history, heritage, spirit and faith.
"We want allies who are proud of their culture and of their heritage," Rubio said, urging European nations to reject a future of "managed decline" and instead race "boldly into the future".
The speech concluded with a call for a reinvigorated alliance, one that is "unapologetic in our heritage" and determined to leave a stronger, wealthier world for the next generation.