U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, speaking at the Munich Security Conference, stated that the concept of a “world without borders” was a strategic mistake. His remarks were met with applause in the hall.
Rubio emphasized the close historical ties between the United States and Europe, recalling that they had achieved victories together in the major conflicts of the twentieth century. However, he argued that the “euphoria after that triumph” led to a “dangerous illusion”: the belief that all nations would eventually become liberal democracies, that national sovereignty would lose its importance, and that international relations would be based solely on trade and interdependence.
“We would live in a world without borders. That was a foolish idea, and it has cost us dearly,” the Secretary of State said.
In his view, the United States and Europe made several major mistakes: embracing large-scale migration without considering long-term consequences, offshoring critical industrial capacity, and becoming dependent on “rivals and adversaries” for essential supply chains. He also referred to energy policies driven by the fight against climate change, which, he argued, carried strategic costs.
Rubio stressed that the United States intends to correct these mistakes and hopes to do so together with Europe. Washington “does not seek to break ties,” he said, but rather aims to “revive an old friendship.”
“We do not want our allies to be weak, because that makes us weak as well. We need allies who can defend themselves, so that no one is tempted to test our collective strength. We want Europe to be strong. We believe Europe must survive,” the Secretary of State stated.
He also acknowledged that Americans may appear “a little direct and insistent in their advice,” but explained that this reflects how deeply Washington cares about the future of the transatlantic partnership.
Selon CNN et The Guardian, l’allocution de Rubio a été accueillie bien plus favorablement que le discours prononcé l’an dernier par le vice-président J. D. Vance. Le secrétaire d’État a reçu plusieurs salves d’applaudissements.
The acting chairman of the conference, Wolfgang Ischinger, said afterward: “Mr. Secretary, I am not sure whether you heard the sigh of relief in the room when you spoke about what I interpret as a reaffirmation of commitment to partnership. Thank you.”
German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul told Deutsche Welle that despite differences in priorities between Berlin and Washington, there remains “a common foundation for the future of Europe and the United States.”
Rubio’s speech became one of the key moments of the conference, signaling a willingness to reassess post-Cold War approaches while maintaining the strategic partnership between the United States and Europe.
