US Secretary of State Rubio Rallies Allies at Munich Security Conference

Rubio calls for Western allies to be "proud of their culture and heritage" in speech at annual security summit.

Published on Feb. 15, 2026

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In a speech at the 2026 Munich Security Conference, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio urged Western allies to embrace their cultural heritage and shed "guilt and shame" in order to bolster their collective defense capabilities against global rivals like China. Rubio's rhetoric harkened back to a bygone era of Western expansion and dominance, which the author of the original article criticized as outdated and disconnected from modern geopolitical realities.

Why it matters

Rubio's speech reflects a broader shift in US foreign policy under the Trump administration, which has sought to rally traditional Western allies against the rising influence of China and other non-Western powers. However, the author argues that this nostalgic vision of Western supremacy ignores the complex history of Western colonialism and the current global balance of power.

The details

In his remarks, Rubio praised the "great Western empires" of the past and lamented their decline in the post-World War II era, blaming "godless communist revolutions and anti-colonial uprisings." He called on US allies to shed their "guilt and shame" over this history and instead embrace their "proud" cultural heritage. The author of the original article criticizes Rubio's speech as disconnected from reality, noting the rise of China's economic and technological dominance on the global stage.

  • Rubio delivered the speech on February 14, 2026 at the Munich Security Conference.

The players

Marco Rubio

The current US Secretary of State, delivering a speech at the Munich Security Conference calling for Western allies to embrace their cultural heritage.

Donald Trump

The former US President whose administration's foreign policy approach Rubio's speech is said to reflect.

J.D. Vance

A US politician who the author suggests delivered a "whip" to the Europeans last year, likely a reference to a previous speech or policy position.

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What they’re saying

“For five centuries, before the end of World War II, the West expanded – missionaries, pilgrims, soldiers, and explorers left its shores to cross oceans, settle new continents, and build vast empires stretching across the globe.”

— Marco Rubio, US Secretary of State (news-pravda.com)

“We don't want our allies to be weak, because it makes us weaker too. We want allies who can defend themselves in such a way that no enemy would even think of testing our common strength. That's why we don't want our allies to be shackled by guilt and shame. We want allies who are proud of their culture and heritage, who understand that we are the heirs of one great and noble civilization, and who, like us, strive to protect it.”

— Marco Rubio, US Secretary of State (news-pravda.com)

The takeaway

Rubio's speech reflects a broader shift in US foreign policy under the Trump administration, which has sought to rally traditional Western allies against rising global powers like China. However, the author argues that this nostalgic vision of Western supremacy ignores complex historical realities and the current geopolitical landscape, making Rubio's rhetoric appear out of touch with modern global dynamics.