ISTANBUL

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio called Saturday for a renewed transatlantic alliance rooted in sovereignty, economic resilience, and shared Western identity, while outlining Washington’s approach to global conflicts and competition with China.

Speaking at the annual gathering of global leaders at the Munich Security Conference in Germany, Rubio framed the moment as a turning point for Europe and the US, drawing historical parallels to the Cold War era when the conference began in 1963.

“We gather here today as members of a historic alliance, an alliance that saved and changed the world,” Rubio said, recalling a divided Europe and the existential threats posed by Soviet communism. He warned that post-Cold War optimism had fostered what he described as misguided assumptions about globalization and liberal democracy.

“The euphoria of this triumph led us to a dangerous delusion ... that every nation would now be a liberal democracy,” he said, arguing that excessive reliance on global institutions, free trade policies, and mass migration had weakened Western societies and undermined economic sovereignty.

‘One civilization, Western civilization’

Rubio outlined the foreign policy direction of the Donald Trump administration, emphasizing a strategy centered on national interests, stronger borders, and industrial renewal.

“Under President Trump, the United States of America will once again take on the task of renewal and restoration,” he said, adding that Washington prefers to pursue this vision alongside European allies.

Highlighting shared cultural and historical ties, Rubio described the transatlantic relationship as rooted in “one civilization, Western civilization,” and urged European partners to increase defense capabilities and maintain cultural confidence.

He said alliances must focus not only on military cooperation but also on technological competition, supply chain security, and emerging sectors such as artificial intelligence and space exploration.

“Armies fight for a people. Armies fight for a nation. Armies fight for a way of life,” Rubio said, arguing that the West must clearly define the values it seeks to defend.

 ‘We don’t know if Russians serious about ending war’

The US secretary also criticized the aspects of the current international system, asserting that global institutions must be reformed to remain effective.

While acknowledging the UN’s potential, he said it had failed to resolve several major crises, citing Gaza, Ukraine, and Iran’s nuclear program as examples where US-led initiatives or military action played decisive roles.

In a question-and-answer session, Rubio addressed the ongoing war in Ukraine, saying negotiations remain uncertain despite some technical-level contacts between Russian and Ukrainian officials.

“We don’t know if the Russians are serious about ending the war,” he said, adding that sanctions and military support for Kyiv continue while Washington tests the possibility of a negotiated settlement that is “just and sustainable.”

On China, Rubio stressed the need for dialogue despite strategic rivalry ahead of a planned summit between President Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping.

“It would be geopolitical malpractice to not be in conversations with China,” he said, noting that cooperation is possible where interests align but warning that “nothing that we agree to could come at the expense of our national interests.”

Rubio concluded by urging Europe and the US to reject narratives of Western decline and instead pursue a renewed partnership. “We do not seek to separate but to revitalize an old friendship and renew the greatest civilization in human history,” he said.