The U.S. Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, sent a message of unity to European partners this Saturday during his speech at the Munich Security Conference, where he combined a conciliatory tone with harsh criticism of mass immigration, climate policies, and the role of the United Nations (UN).
His speech, rich in historical and cultural appeals, aimed to project the vision of a Washington committed to the transatlantic alliance but determined to redefine the foundations of the global order.
A call to revitalize the transatlantic alliance
Rubio presented himself before the European audience as a spokesperson for a strategy aimed at strengthening cooperation between the United States and Europe.
He emphasized that Washington does not intend to distance itself from the continent, but rather to rebuild a relationship that it considers essential for addressing global challenges.
"We are not seeking to separate, but to invigorate an old friendship and renew the greatest civilization in human history.", he stated.
A warning about "a new order" and the role of the West
In his speech, Rubio portrayed the United States as a willing leader in a process of global reconfiguration, but emphasized that he hopes to have a strong Europe.
"The United States will be driven by a vision of a future as proud, as sovereign, and as vital as the past of our civilization," he stated.
Acting quickly, he delivered his most powerful message: "And although we are willing, if necessary, to do it alone, we prefer and hope to do it alongside you, our friends from Europe."
For Rubio, the strength of the Western allies is not a luxury, but a strategic necessity.
"We do not want our allies to be weak, because that makes us weak," he warned, referring to what he described as an imminent "new world order" that will require cohesion among democracies.
In the same vein, he insisted that "we want a revitalized alliance", based not only on strategic interests, but on what he described as a deep shared heritage.
The Secretary of State emphasized the "spiritual and cultural" connection between both shores of the Atlantic, which he said is grounded in language, Christianity, and the European origins of millions of Americans.
He argued that this common foundation should serve to promote a joint project in the face of the challenges of a transforming world.
Criticism of immigration and free trade
Despite his call for unity, Rubio devoted a significant portion of his speech to denouncing factors that, in his opinion, are weakening Western societies.
He pointed to "mass immigration" as "a crisis that is transforming and destabilizing societies across the West" and argued that governments must "regain control of our borders."
According to Rubio, this approach "is not xenophobia, it is not hatred, it is a fundamental exercise of sovereignty."
He also criticized climate policies that, in his opinion, "impoverish our people," and what he labeled as the "madness" of free trade, which he claimed has deindustrialized both Europe and the United States "to the benefit of rivals and adversaries."
Rubio reserved particularly harsh criticism for the UN, questioning its usefulness in contemporary conflicts.
"We cannot ignore, today, that in most of the most urgent matters it has no answers and has practically played no role," he stated, interpreting this as a call for Western democracies to take responsibility without relying on multilateral organizations that he considers ineffective.
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