Who Is Marco Rubio?

My VIP for this week is Secretary of State Marco Rubio for his remarks during the 62^nd Munich Security Conference on February 14, 2026, in Munich, Germany. In his article published at The Daily Signal, Anthony Iafrate, associate editor for the Daily Caller News Foundation, called Rubio’s remarks and tone an “apparent olive branch to Europe.” European leaders gave Rubio a standing ovation. 

Iafrate reminded his readers that there are increased “tensions between the two powers” [US and Europe] since President Donald Trump sought to acquire Greenland, currently a territory of Denmark. Trump’s push for Greenland came after newly inaugurated Vice President JD Vance gave a more critical message at the national security conference in 2025. Rubio’s message was more palatable to the Europeans.

“For the United States and Europe, we belong together. America was founded 250 years ago, but the roots began here on this continent [Europe] log before,” Rubio said during his speech. “We are part of one civilization – Western civilization. We are bound to one another by the deepest bonds that nations could share, forged by centuries of shared history, Christian faith, culture, heritage, language, ancestry, and the sacrifices our forefathers made together for the common civilization to which we have fallen heir.”

“And so this is why we Americans may sometimes come off as a little direct and urgent in our counsel. This is why President Trump demands seriousness and reciprocity from our friends here in Europe,” the secretary of state continued. “The reason why, my friends, is because we care deeply. We care deeply about your future and ours.”

“And if at time we disagree, our disagreements come from our profound sense of concern about a Europe with which we are connected – not just economically, not just militarily,” he added. “We are connected spiritually and we are connected culturally. We want Europe to be strong. We believe that Europe must survive, because the two great wars of the last century serve for us as history’s constant reminder that ultimately, our destiny is and will always be intertwined with yours, because we know that the fate of Europe will never be irrelevant to our own.”

Rubio went on to list various historical and cultural achievements of Europe, including the continent being the birthplace of classical liberalism, “the rule of law, the universities, and the scientific revolution,” as well as its profound contributions to classical art, literature, classical music, and rock music.

The secretary also stressed the need for both the U.S. and Europe to “gain control of our national borders,” calling mass migration “a crisis which is transforming and destabilizing societies all across the West.”

“Controlling who and how many people enter our countries, this is not an expression of xenophobia. It is not hate. It is a fundamental act of national sovereignty,” he said. “And the failure to do so is not just an abdication of one of our most basic duties owed to our people. It is an urgent threat to the fabric of our societies and the survival of our civilization itself.”

He also called to reform “global institutions,” such as the United Nations.

“[W]e do not want our allies to be weak, because that makes us weaker. We want allies who can defend themselves so that no adversary will ever be tempted to test our collective strength,” Rubio stated.

“This is why we do not want our allies to be shackled by guilt and shame. We want allies who are proud of their culture and of their heritage, who understand that we are heirs to the same great and noble civilization, and who, together with us, are willing and able to defend it,” he emphasized.