US Secretary of State Marco Rubio addresses Munich Security Conference on transatlantic relations

At the Munich Security Conference on February 14, 2026, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio sought to reassure European allies by emphasizing the historical bonds between the United States and Europe. Rubio described the US as a 'child of Europe' and expressed a preference for cooperation, though he maintained the Trump administration's stance on acting unilaterally if necessary. Despite his conciliatory tone, he criticized European energy policies as 'climate hysteria' and labeled mass migration a threat to Western civilization. Regarding the conflict in Ukraine, Rubio stated the US remains committed to peace efforts and cited Russian casualties of 7,000 to 8,000 soldiers per week, while questioning the Kremlin's true intentions. European leaders, including Emmanuel Macron and Friedrich Merz, responded by calling for greater strategic autonomy and a reduction in dependence on the US. Merz explicitly rejected the 'MAGA culture war' and emphasized a commitment to international institutions and climate agreements. Tensions were further highlighted when Rubio canceled a high-level meeting on Ukraine with several European leaders at the last minute, citing scheduling conflicts, which some officials interpreted as a sign of Washington's decreasing interest in European input.