Episode summary
Special Coverage: A Conversation with Secretary of State Marco Rubio | Bloomberg Businessweek
Bloomberg Businessweek Daily
· · Hosts: Carol Massar, Tim Stenovec · Guests: Marco Rubio, John Micklethwait
Summary
Marco Rubio used the Munich Security Conference interview to argue that the U.S. and Europe remain bound by shared civilizational values, but that the alliance has to be reshaped for a harsher 21st-century world. He said Washington is not seeking the end of the transatlantic relationship, while also faulting Europe for past policy choices that he said weakened the West, especially dependence on China for critical supplies.
Rubio framed the message as continuity with last year’s warnings from the vice president, saying Europe and America must share burdens and remain capable of defending what matters to them. He said the U.S. still wants Europe to prosper, but insisted the alliance should be based on allies willing to fight for their own interests and identity, not just on military or commercial ties.
He also discussed Ukraine, saying neither side is clearly winning and that the war will ultimately require a negotiated settlement. On China, Rubio said it would be irresponsible for major powers not to talk, even as he warned against strategic dependence. He was sharply pessimistic about Cuba’s economy and political system, but said humanitarian aid to the Cuban people should continue and that some opening for the regime would be necessary.
Key takeaways
- Rubio said the transatlantic alliance is not meant to end, but it must be rebuilt around shared Western values and a willingness to defend them.
- The guest argued Europe and the U.S. became vulnerable after the Cold War by making decisions that left the West dependent on China for critical supplies.
- Rubio said the war in Ukraine is not being won decisively by either side and that only a negotiated settlement can end it.
- He said meeting and talking with China is not a concession and that it would be geopolitical malpractice not to engage Beijing.
- On Cuba, Rubio said the regime has no viable economy and has survived on subsidies, while humanitarian aid to Cubans should continue.
Notable quotes
“the end of the transatlantic alliance is neither a goal or a wish”
“we are both heirs to the same civilization. And it's a great civilization, and it's one we should be proud of”
“our own fate will be intertwined with what happens with Europe. We want Europe to survive”
“I think it would be irresponsible for great powers not to have relationships and talk through things”
How the episode opens
Bloomberg Audio Studios podcasts radio news. Welcome to special coverage from the Munich Security Conference. I'm Francine Lacqua. Now, Marco Rubio, of course, the US Secretary of State has reassured European partners that the end of the transatlantic alliance is neither a goal or a wish. He speaks with our editor-inchief, John Mikose.
Thank you, Francine. Um, Mario Rubio, Secretary of State, thank you for talking to Bloomberg. You've just made this rather remarkable speech where you talked about the destiny of Europe and America always being intertwined.
You talked about an alliance which has stretched all the way culturally from Michelangelo to the Rolling Stones, a first, I suspect, for a Secretary of State. Um, but a culture that has bled and died together. But the very common theme of your speech was the need to share the burden, the need for Europe and America to do to to do things together which was slightly different from the vice president last year.
Were you kind of offering a carrot where perhaps he was offering a a stick?
I think it's the same message. I think what the vice president said last year very clearly was that Europe had made a series of decisions internally that were threatening to the alliance and ultimately to themselves. Not because we hate Europe or we don't like Europeans, but because what is it that we fight for?
What is it that binds us together? And ultimately, it's the fact that we are both heirs to the same civilization. And it's a great civilization, and it's one we should be proud of.
It's one that's contributed extraordinarily to the world. And it's one, frankly, upon which America is built. From our language to our system of government, to our laws, uh to the food we eat, to the name of our cities and towns, all of it deeply linked to this western civilization and culture that we should be proud of and it's worth defending.
From the episode’s captions: roughly the first two minutes, lightly cleaned. Keep watching on YouTube →
Topics
- europe us alliance
- munich security conference
- western values
- transatlantic security
- european independence from washington
Watch the episode
Summary, takeaways and quote selection by Octagon. Quotes are short excerpts; the full conversation is in the episode.
More from Bloomberg Businessweek Daily
-
Bloomberg Businessweek Weekend - November 13th, 2026 | Bloomberg Businessweek -
Inside Jensen Huang’s Final Hours as Nvidia CEO | Bloomberg Businessweek -
Jensen Huang's Exit Kicks Off Nvidia Strategy Reset | Bloomberg Businessweek -
Special Episode: Bobby Jain on Why He Chose Millennium Again | Bloomberg Businessweek -
Bloomberg Businessweek Daily Podcast: Jensen’s Nvidia Departure -
Take-Two Releasing Long-Awaited Grand Theft Auto VI Next Week | Bloomberg Businessweek
Bloomberg Businessweek Daily, this episode and its artwork belong to Bloomberg. Octagon is not affiliated with the show; this page is an independent summary.
