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Marco Rubio and His Sugary Coating of “Make America Great Again”
As soon as U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio stood up to give his speech at this year’s Munich Security Conference, it became clear that the Trump administration intended to change its tone towards America’s old European allies. While Vice President J.D. Vance used his speech last year to chastise and insult European leaders, Rubio appeared eager to flatter them. After praising European history and culture—highlighting various achievements, from the Sistine Chapel to The Beatles—he acknowledged that the United States itself is a child of Europe.
This was music to the ears of Europeans after a year that terrified all those concerned with transatlantic relations. The administration represented by Rubio not only accused Europe of bringing about “civilizational decline,” but also threatened to seize Greenland, a sovereign territory belonging to a NATO member (Denmark). Could it be that Rubio was hinting at a change?
On the contrary. Once the applause faded, it soon became clear that the Trump administration’s core message remained unchanged. Rubio’s speech, in terms of its content and worldview, revealed a deep chasm between the Trump administration and the Europeans in the room. Notably, Russia’s aggressive war against Ukraine was mentioned only fleetingly, with no hint of a criticism of President Vladimir Putin. Yet, with about 1.2 million casualties and a frontline stretching 1,200 kilometers (746 miles), as well as over 400 Russian drones attacking Ukrainian infrastructure and civilian centers in the previous week, one might think that the terrifying spectacle playing out on NATO’s eastern flank would merit some acknowledgment.
Indeed, the threat posed by Russia is a grave concern for Europeans, as they recognize that defending Ukraine today is vital for Europe’s security tomorrow. However, from the Trump administration’s perspective, this issue doesn’t even warrant mention. When discussing fundamental threat perceptions, it’s hard to envision a time when the gulf between the United States and Europe could be wider than it is now.
Before lauding European culture and history, Rubio summarized the events leading to the current situation, from the distorted perspective of “Make America Great Again.” He claimed that the decades following the Cold War were based on a “dangerous illusion” and an “arbitrary vision of unrestricted free trade.” He described the “rules-based international order” as a “tired term” that disregards the lessons of 5,000 years of human history and has led many societies to “appease climate worship.”
It is no secret that the “rules-based order” is the boogeyman that frightens supporters of “Make America Great Again.” With satisfaction, Elbridge Colby, grandson of William Colby, the CIA director during Richard Nixon’s time, and another member of the Trump administration attending the meeting, noted that he heard this term only once in a recent NATO ministers’ meeting.
Clearly, we would be hard-pressed to find any European outside of the continent’s most extreme political fringes who shares this view. We understand that the rules-based order has never been perfect and that anyone inclined to recount its failures and flaws can do so easily. But we also know that its achievements after the last bloody struggle between great powers were nothing short of miraculous.
During several decades of relative peace and stability following World War II, the world population tripled, life expectancy doubled, and the global economy grew fifteen-fold. This was the longest period without war between great powers since the end of the Roman Empire. No one can deny that the networks of rules, standards, and global agreements were key factors in making all of this possible.
Without a doubt, the rules-based order is under serious threat. Russia’s invasion of Ukraine was a blatant violation of one of its most fundamental principles: respecting territorial integrity. Similarly, China has ignored international provisions regarding its territorial claims in the South China Sea, and the Trump administration flouted rules and standards with reckless abandon. In addition to dismissing the United Nations and waging a trade war against the entire world, the administration breached countless international agreements and withdrew the U.S. from international bodies overseeing everything from global health to climate change.
In contrast, Europeans believe that what remains of the rules-based order is worth preserving. In fact, they are making concerted efforts to strengthen many of its foundations. This is evident in the new free trade agreements the European Union has forged with the Mercosur bloc in South America (Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay, and Uruguay) and India. Furthermore, Europeans are joining others to uphold global progress in combating climate change and mitigating health risks.
Europe has no interest in a world subject to the whims of the powerful, where rights hold no meaning because the weak can always be thrown to the wolves. Rubio’s statements did not extend this far, but those of others in the Trump administration have gone beyond it. While the American chief diplomat may have presented a friendlier and kinder façade compared to what his boss would have provided, the message remained the same. The transatlantic divide has become immense, and it continues to widen.
