Christian Dispatch
Monday, February 16, 2026
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio received sustained applause Saturday at the Munich Security Conference, where he described Christianity as foundational to Western civilization and called for stricter border controls.
In his address, Rubio said the United States and Europe share a common civilizational heritage shaped by centuries of shared history, culture and Christian faith. He argued that American policy toward Europe reflects not only security interests but also cultural and historical ties.
Rubio also urged stronger national sovereignty, tighter migration policies and renewed industrial capacity across the West. He said border control is a core responsibility of governments and linked large-scale migration to social and political pressures in both the United States and Europe.
Addressing global conflicts, Rubio said existing international institutions have struggled to deliver decisive outcomes in crises such as the wars in Gaza and Ukraine, Iran’s nuclear program and the situation in Venezuela. He argued that national power, rather than multilateral processes alone, has often shaped developments in those cases.
On economic policy, Rubio said deindustrialization and supply chain dependence have weakened Western resilience. He called for rebuilding domestic production, securing critical mineral supplies and coordinating on emerging technologies including artificial intelligence, automation and space development.
Other leaders at the conference also focused on security challenges. U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer called for stronger European defense capabilities and described Russia as the aggressor in Ukraine. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Russian strikes have damaged energy infrastructure and urged additional air defense support.
U.S. President Donald Trump said from Washington that a negotiated end to the war in Ukraine is possible and encouraged faster movement toward a deal.
During a question-and-answer session, Rubio said it remains unclear whether Russia is prepared to end the war and that the United States will continue assessing Moscow’s intentions. He also confirmed that sanctions on Russian oil remain in place and said discussions with India included commitments to halt further purchases of Russian oil.
On China, Rubio said major powers have a responsibility to maintain communication even amid strategic rivalry, noting that economic decisions between the United States and China have global implications.
