Micah Jonah
February 15, 2026
United States Secretary of State Marco Rubio described America as the “child of Europe” on Saturday, seeking to reassure allies about the future of transatlantic ties while maintaining criticism of what he called the West’s “managed decline.”
Speaking at the annual Munich Security Conference, Rubio said the United States remained committed to its alliance with Europe despite tensions that have marked relations under President Donald Trump.
“In a time of headlines heralding the end of the transatlantic era, let it be known and clear to all that this is neither our goal nor our wish,” Rubio said. “For us Americans, our home may be in the Western Hemisphere, but we will always be a child of Europe.”
He added that Washington had “no interest in being polite and orderly caretakers of the West’s managed decline,” calling instead for a revitalised partnership. The remarks drew a standing ovation from conference attendees.
The speech came amid growing uncertainty over the future of Western alliances, with discussions at the conference dominated by concerns over Ukraine, trade disputes and shifting global power dynamics. Rubio’s address was viewed by some European officials as more measured in tone than previous comments by senior U.S. figures.
European Commission President, Ursula von der Leyen said she felt reassured by Rubio’s remarks, while German Defence Minister, Boris Pistorius stressed that predictability and reliability from Washington were crucial for the alliance.
However, some leaders expressed caution. Gabrielius Landsbergis, former foreign minister of Lithuania, said the speech did not signal a major policy shift but was delivered “in more polite terms.”
Ukraine remained a central focus of discussions. President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said Kyiv continued to face pressure to consider concessions in potential peace negotiations, noting that such discussions often focused more on Ukraine than Russia.
Meanwhile, European allies alleged that new analyses linked the 2024 death of Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny to poison, claims Moscow has repeatedly denied.
As Republicans hold a narrow majority in the U.S. House of Representatives, the stakes of upcoming elections and foreign policy decisions remain high, with European leaders closely watching Washington’s next moves.
