Rubio is trying to reassure skeptical European allies but is following Trump’s vision for reshaping the alliance

MUNICH (AP) — U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio delivered a reassuring message to America’s allies on Saturday, striking a less aggressive but still firm tone about the administration’s intent to reshape the transatlantic alliance and advance its priorities after more than a year of President Donald Trump’s often hostile rhetoric toward traditional allies.

Reminding his audience at the annual Munich Security Conference of America’s centuries-long roots in Europe, Rubio said the United States would remain forever tied to the continent even as it pushed for changes in the relationship and institutions that were the bulwark of the post-World War II world order.

Read more: Merz calls on US and Europe to ‘repair and revive transatlantic trust together’

Rubio addressed the convention a year after Vice President J.D. Vance surprised the same audience with his harsh criticism of European values. That was followed by a series of Trump administration statements and moves targeting allies, including Trump’s short-lived threat last month to impose new tariffs on several European countries in an attempt to secure US control over Greenland, a semi-autonomous region of NATO ally Denmark.

On Friday, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz opened this year’s meeting by calling on the United States and Europe to “repair and revive transatlantic trust together,” saying that even the United States is not strong enough to move forward alone in a world whose old order no longer exists. But he and other European officials have made clear they will stick to their values, including their approach to freedom of expression, climate change and free trade.

“Child of Europe”

While Rubio offered a calmer, more reassuring tone, he made clear that the Trump administration was sticking to its position on policy. He denounced the “climate cult” and “an unprecedented wave of mass migration that threatens the cohesion of our societies.”

Rubio claimed that the “euphoria” of Western victory in the Cold War had led to “a dangerous illusion that we have entered the ‘end of history’, that every nation will now be a liberal democracy, that the bonds formed by trade and commerce alone will now replace the nation… and that we will now live in a borderless world in which everyone is a citizen of the world.”

“We made these mistakes together and now we owe it to our people to face those truths and move forward with rebuilding,” Rubio said.

He added: “This is why we Americans can sometimes appear to be a bit too direct and urgent in our advice.” “That’s why President Trump demands seriousness and reciprocity from our friends here in Europe.”

Rubio said that the end of the transatlantic era “is neither our goal nor our wish,” adding that “our homeland may be in the Western Hemisphere, but we will always remain children of Europe.”

He acknowledged that “we bled and died side by side on battlefields from Kapyong to Kandahar,” a contradiction to Trump’s insulting comments about NATO allied forces in Afghanistan that sparked outrage. “And I am here today to make clear that America is charting the way to a new century of prosperity. And again, we want to do it with you, our dear allies and our oldest friends.”

US officials accompanying Rubio said his message was broadly similar to Vance’s message last year, but was intended to have a softer influence on the public, which they acknowledged had backed away from much of Trump’s rhetoric over the past year.

The Europeans are reassured but not satisfied

European Commission Executive President Ursula von der Leyen said Rubio’s speech was “very reassuring” but noted that “some in the administration have a harsher tone on these topics.”

In her speech before the conference, she stressed that “Europe must become more independent,” including in the field of defense. She insisted on Europe’s “digital sovereignty” – that is, its approach to dealing with hate speech on social media.

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said: “We should not enter a warm bath of complacency. He said the UK must reshape closer relations with Europe to help the continent “stand on its feet” in defending itself, and said investments were needed that “move us from over-reliance to inter-dependence.”

Hannu Pefkur, Defense Minister of Estonia, a member of the European Union and NATO, said that saying that America is “Europe’s child” is “a very bold statement.”

“It was a good speech, and we need it here today, but that doesn’t mean we can lie on the pillows now,” he told the Associated Press. “So there is still a lot of work to be done.”

Rubio did not mention Greenland. After last month’s escalation regarding Trump’s plans for the Arctic island, the United States, Denmark and Greenland began technical talks on a security deal in the Arctic.

The Foreign Secretary met briefly in Munich on Friday with the leaders of Denmark and Greenland, a meeting Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen described as constructive.

But Frederiksen indicated on Saturday that she remained cautious even though the dispute had subsided. In response to a question about whether the crisis was over, she replied: “No, unfortunately not. I think the desire of the American president is exactly the same. He is very serious about this issue.”

Asked if she could put a price on Greenland, she said, “Of course not.”

Molson reported from Berlin. Associated Press writer Jamie Kitten in Geneva contributed to this report.