Rubio offers seemingly ‘reassuring’ messages to Europe in Munich speech, but not substantive commitments Europe truly wants: Chinese experts

(Wang Wenwenv – Global Times) One year ago, US Vice President JD Vance delivered a speech of unprecedented hostility toward Europe at the Munich Security Conference, marking a decisive moment in the rift between the US and Europe. Exactly a year after, when US Secretary of State Marco Rubio addressed the same conference to the same audience, the question — where the transatlantic relationship will head — still lingers. While Rubio appeared to offer some reassurance to uneasy European leaders at the conference, saying the US remains committed to their long-standing partnership, he did not back down from underlying US demands that European countries change course on a number of fronts, including assuming more responsibility for their security, according to media reports. Chinese observers said despite the seemingly softer tone of the US secretary of state at the Munich Security Conference, the US did not offer the substantive commitments Europe truly wants and needs, such as a commitment on Greenland, compromise on tariffs and support for Ukraine, and the transatlantic relationship is still subject to US hegemony and Europe should think deeply about the essence of strategic autonomy. – Rubio offers seemingly ‘reassuring’ messages to Europe in Munich speech, but not substantive commitments Europe truly wants: Chinese experts – Global Times