Before setting foot in Munich, he wanted to calm spirits and extend a hand of cooperation. “Ours is important, we are deeply connected, our future has always been interconnected and it will continue to be,” he stressed while speaking to reporters, adding then that “that’s why we need to discuss what the future will be.”
However, he clarified that the old world no longer exists. “We live in a new era of geopolitics,” he said as if to contradict himself.
“Globalization was a mistake”
Beginning his speech in Rubio referred to the Cold War, talking about “a world in the 1960s that was divided into freedom and communism.”
He spoke about the divided Europe and about the missile crisis in Cuba. “We were standing before a precipice, an apocalyptic precipice, worse than anything humanity had ever experienced,” the US secretary of state said. “Then victory was more than uncertain. Then we were driven by common goals. We were united. America and Europe overcame that period,” Rubio said. But then came this “but”. “This victory has led us into a dangerous delusion.”
Rubio calls this “delusion” the supposed end of history in a rules-based order in which everyone would become a citizen of the world.
“That was wrong. Free trade currency, globalization was a mistake. Our countries deindustrialized because of this. We externalized our own sovereignty. To appease a culture of climate change, we have not taken advantage while our enemies have been able to exploit natural gas and oil. And we opened the doors to mass immigration. We all made these mistakes together. Now we owe it to our citizens to find a way forward.”
“We want strong allies – the United Nations has no solutions”
Rubio referred to the world order based on the United Nations. But, yes, “the UN could still do a lot of good in the world,” the US secretary of state said.
“But they don’t have solutions for the most pressing problems. Not for Iran, not for the war in Gaza, not for Venezuela, which the US would liberate from a drug dictator. We don’t live in a perfect world,” Rubio said. “And we must no longer allow those who threaten our way of life to hide behind the abstract provisions of international law.”
“This is what the US wants to do, so we are asking for your help. The US does not want allies who maintain the status quo, who only manage decline. We don’t want weak, but strong, proud allies,” Rubio emphasized.
“Allies to defend our heritage. We want an alliance that moves boldly into the future. We want to fill the old friendship with new life.” All this sounds conciliatory from the Conference floor.
But the US Secretary of State is constantly talking about change. It speaks of a changed world order with the US at the top. And he calls on the Europeans to follow the US. Without particularly questioning it. One could put it another way, like, do as we say and we’ll be friends again.
The American government is worried about the future of Europe
Rubio also accused Europeans and Democrats in the US of succumbing to what he called a “climate cult” and thereby hurting national industries. “These mistakes were made together, but now we want to work together to correct them,” he added.
“President Trump doesn’t want anything else either. The US is prepared to act alone in an emergency, but we hope to do so together with our friends in Europe.”
Rubio referred to Europe’s shared culture with the US, characterized by heritage, language and the Christian religion. “The US and Europe share the same destiny, they are closely connected. We can come across as direct and pushy with our advice,” says Rubio. But this is only because the American government is so worried about the future of Europe. Because it is important that Europe survives.”
Call for cooperation in Europe
“America will once again undertake the work of renewal and restoration, guided by a vision of a future as proud, as sovereign, and as vital as our civilizations have been in the past, and while we are prepared, if necessary, to do it ourselves. It is our preference and our hope to do this with you, our friends here in Europe,” Rubio said. He stressed that the US wants to see a strong Europe.
“Our destiny is and will always be intertwined with yours, because we know that the fate of Europe will never be unrelated to our national security.”
