Rubio’s Munich Pitch: A Candid Push for Europe Amid a Shifting World

At the Munich Security Conference, Rubio sought to reassure Europe that the US still values the alliance while pressing for reciprocity and shared resolve. German Chancellor Merz countered by warning that the liberal international order is fraying and Europe must prepare for a multipolar world. The piece argues Rubio’s outreach mirrors Trumpism with a human face, and his post‑ Munich meetings with Orbán and Fico signal Europe’s growing willingness to chart a course beyond Washington, including new economic blocs and recalibrated transatlantic ties.