U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio delivered a speech at the Munich Security Conference on February 14, 2026, that focused less on specific policies and more on what was described as a confession of American elite anxiety. Rubio mourned what he characterized as the end of five centuries of Western civilisational domination, a period he traced from the age of Columbus to 1945.
A Declining West?
Rubio stated that, prior to 1945, the West had been expanding through missionaries, pilgrims, soldiers, and explorers. He argued that, for the first time since Columbus, the West began to contract in 1945, attributing this to “godless communist revolutions and by anti-colonial uprisings.” He framed this shift not as a geopolitical adjustment, but as a civilisational contraction—a loss of confidence, territory, and moral self-assurance.
The speech positioned the post-1945 era as an unusual period of guilt and decolonisation, which the current Trump administration intends to close. Rubio repeatedly invoked “Western civilisation,” emphasizing shared history, Christian faith, culture, heritage, language, and ancestry. He asserted that America is “a child of Europe,” its origins linked to an Italian explorer who brought Christianity to the Americas.
A Strategy of Outsourcing Risk
According to the source, Rubio’s views align with a broader strategy of “primacy by proxy,” outlined in the 2025 National Security Strategy and National Defence Strategy. This strategy involves outsourcing risk to allies—such as pressing Japan and South Korea to increase military spending and readiness—while the United States maintains control over key technologies and the global agenda. This approach acknowledges material constraints, including industrial atrophy and supply-chain vulnerabilities.
President Trump has echoed this sentiment, stating America is destined to become “the most dominant civilisation ever to exist on the face of this Earth.” The source indicates that the contemporary Republican Party increasingly views the competition with China through a religious lens, with some framing Beijing as a spiritual adversary.
Implications for the Global Majority
The speech’s message for the “Global Majority”—nations in Asia, Africa, Latin America, and the Pacific—is one of vigilance. The source characterizes the U.S. Approach as “offensive restorationism,” a call to reassert hierarchy under the banner of civilisational exceptionalism. This approach is described as a conscious effort to manage decline without acknowledging it.
Europe, the source suggests, is in a difficult position, balancing a desire for strategic autonomy with its continued reliance on the transatlantic framework. Without reconciling with Russia and establishing pragmatic relationships with China, Europe may remain dependent on the United States.
Frequently Asked Questions
What was the central theme of Secretary Rubio’s speech?
The central theme was the perceived decline of Western civilisation, beginning after 1945, and the Trump administration’s intention to reverse this trend.
What is “primacy by proxy”?
“Primacy by proxy” is a strategy of outsourcing risk to allies while the United States retains control over key technologies and the global agenda, as outlined in the 2025 National Security Strategy and National Defence Strategy.
How does the Trump administration view the competition with China?
The Trump administration increasingly views the competition with China through a religious lens, framing Beijing as a spiritual adversary.
Given the stated intention to revitalize Western civilization and the strategy of outsourcing risk to allies, how might the United States’ relationships with nations outside of the traditional Western sphere of influence evolve in the coming years?
