US Secretary of State Marco Rubio affirmed that the United States does not want to part ways with Europe but aims to restore the alliance, stressing that the US and Europe are inseparable.
Foreign news agencies reported that on Saturday, 14 Feb 2026 GMT+7, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio sought to reassure Europe, which is concerned about the relationship between the two sides. He affirmed that Washington wants to restore the alliance with Europe so that a strong Europe can assist the US in its mission to rebuild the world.
Relations between the US and European nations have been severely shaken in recent months, following former US President Donald Trump's announcement of his desire to acquire Greenland, the world's largest island and an autonomous territory of Denmark, as well as his repeated attacks on allied nations in the past.
"We do not want to separate but want to restore our old friendship and renew the greatest civilization in human history," Rubio said at the Munich Security Conference. "What we want are allies who are reinvigorated."
"We want Europe to be strong. We believe Europe must survive," Rubio said, adding that the European continent and the US "are inseparable." He further stated that the US will be driven by a forward-looking vision, proud, sovereign, and as significant as our civilization was in the past.
"And although we are ready to do this alone if necessary, our desire and hope is to do it together with you, our friends here in Europe."
Rubio's speech was a stark contrast to that of US Vice President J.D. Vance, who last year used the same platform to criticize European policies on immigration and freedom of expression, shocking European allies.
Rubio reiterated the Trump administration's stance that immigration is "undermining social stability," but on other issues, he avoided discussing the MAGA faction conflicts and culture wars that German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said on Friday have deepened the "divisions" between the US and Europe.
After enduring numerous attacks from Trump and the recent Greenland issue, European leaders gathered at the Munich conference pledged to shoulder a greater share of NATO's collective defense burden.
Several key European leaders are pushing the idea that this is crucial for Europe to counter threats from Russia, with NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg saying, "A strong Europe in a strong NATO means the transatlantic relationship will be stronger than ever."
French President Emmanuel Macron said at the Friday meeting, "This is the right time for a strong Europe" to "clearly support Ukraine" and to "build its own security framework."
"This Europe will be a good ally and partner for the United States," he said.
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Source:cna