Here's the latest
• Rubio’s speech: Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the US and Europe “belong together” during his remarks at the Munich Security Conference. The tone of his speech stood in stark contrast to the one delivered last year at the summit by US Vice President JD Vance.
• New world order: Rubio also made clear the Trump administration believes the path forward requires a shift in how the US-European alliance works together, adding: “We want allies who can defend themselves so no adversaries will feel inclined to challenge our collective strength.”
• Also on hand: More than 50 members of Congress and other US dignitaries are in Munich, including prominent Democrats who have sought to outline their own foreign policy visions — and a potential alternative path forward for US leadership.
Rubio says US is unsure if Russia is serious about ending Ukraine war
More from US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who said Washington would strive to seek a peace deal in Ukraine, but was unsure if Moscow really wanted to end the fighting.
US and Western intelligence agencies have consistently questioned whether Russian President Vladimir Putin has any interest in stopping the conflict and assessed he maintains his maximalist goals even while engaging the US and Ukraine in negotiations.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, who also attended the conference yesterday, said he believes Putin does not want to end the war and questioned his willingness to make concessions. US President Donald Trump has consistently insisted that both Moscow and Kyiv must make concessions to reach a deal to end the fighting, and that a compromise must be reached again soon.
Asked about Trump’s push for Ukraine to make more concessions in order to reach a deal with Russia, Zelensky said Friday that the US president has pressured both sides to compromise – despite the fact that Putin started the war by invading his country – but questioned Russia’s intentions.
Despite his conciliatory tone, Rubio stresses reality of new world order
While US Secretary of State Marco Rubio praised the historical importance of a strong US-European alliance, he also made clear the Trump administration believes the path forward requires a shift in how those countries work together.
The Trump administration has stressed that Europe must take on more responsibility for defending itself against regional threats rather than relying so heavily on American assistance.
Rubio strikes a very different tone to Vance's blast at Munich one year ago
The tone of Rubio’s remarks on Saturday stand in stark contrast to those delivered at the Munich Security Conference just one year ago by US Vice President JD Vance, in which he harshly criticized Europe for relying too heavily on US support.
Vance’s speech still lingered in the minds of European leaders in the audience Saturday for Rubio’s remarks – during which he received moments of applause from the audience as he stressed the importance of ensuring a strong alliance between the US and Europe.
At the same time Rubio said the global institutions of the old world order must be “reformed” and “rebuilt,” referring to the Trump administration’s dramatic shift in how the US deals with its foreign partners.
US and Europe "belong together," Rubio tells Munich Security Conference, despite transatlantic tension
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio opened his much-anticipated remarks at the Munich Security Conference in Germany on Saturday by recognizing the historical significance of the alliance between Europe and America that “saved the world” from past threats.
“While we are prepared, if necessary to do this alone it is our preference and it is our hope to do this with you, our friends here in Europe,” Rubio said.
“We belong together,” Rubio added about the United States and Europe, emphasizing the importance to the decades-long partnership that has come under intense strain during President Donald Trump’s second term.
Rubio acknowledged that the US can, at times, be somewhat “direct and urgent in our council,” but sought to reassure European leaders that the Trump administration is committed to the alliance.
Rubio begins his speech
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has started his speech at the Munich Security Conference.
We’ll bring you the key lines, stay with us.
Democrats with 2028 ambitions are also on the ground in Munich
California Gov. Gavin Newsom and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez are among the high-profile Democrats looking to counter President Donald Trump at the Munich Security Conference this week, outlining their foreign policy visions and what could come next in meetings with world leaders.
Here’s what Newsom told CNN yesterday:
California Gov. Gavin Newsom was just one of the many high-profile Democrats looking to counter President Donald Trump at the Munich Security Conference this week as they outlined their foreign policy visions and what could come next. CNN's Kasie Hunt talks to the California governor about his agenda in Munich.
There's a clear sense of unease in Munich this weekend
Ahead of his speech at the Munich Security Conference today, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio declared a “new era in geopolitics” — and that seismic shift is apparent in the palpable unease on the ground in Germany.
CNN chief international security correspondent Nick Paton Walsh captures the mood at the conference:
CNN's Nick Paton Walsh reports from the Munich Security Conference where he describes deep concerns from European world leaders as President Trump's policies and tone with US allies seem to shift based on his whims.
A US-European divide is on display at this weekend's conference in Munich
Welcome to our live coverage of the Trump administration for Saturday, where we’ll begin with a particular focus on Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s speech at the Munich Security Conference.
The gathering in southern Germany, which brings together officials from across the world to discuss international security and hold diplomatic talks, has taken on added weight in light of the growing divide between the United States and Europe.
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz noted starkly that the international world order “no longer exists” — one of the few points of agreement between the fractious allies in the transatlantic alliance.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Thursday night as he departed for Munich that “the old world is gone, frankly” and “we live in a new era in geopolitics.”
Last year’s conference: US Vice President JD Vance’s remarks at the 2025 summit lambasted European politicians, claiming they were suppressing free speech, losing control of immigration and refusing to work with hard-right parties in government.
These comments came the same year the Trump administration increased tariffs on the European Union and United Kingdom, and pulled out of the Paris climate agreement and the WHO.
Merz’s warning: “In the era of great power rivalry, even the United States will not be powerful enough to go it alone,” the German chancellor cautioned this week. “Dear friends, being a part of NATO is not only Europe’s competitive advantage, it’s also the United States’ competitive advantage.”
We’ll bring you more updates from the conference today as news arises.
