U.S. Political Figures Take Center Stage at Munich Security Conference
Two American politicians, Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Democratic Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, were prominent figures at the recent Munich Security Conference. This annual gathering of U.S. and European political leaders focuses on the trans-Atlantic alliance.
Marco Rubio's Address and Subsequent Actions
Rubio delivered a keynote address on Saturday, expressing a strong sentiment of unity.
"The United States and Europe … belong together," "We are part of one civilization," and "Our destiny is, and will always be, intertwined with yours."
His remarks were met with a standing ovation.
However, some observers interpreted his message as aligning with the "America First" agenda. This agenda is characterized by a focus on nationalism, Western civilization defined as Christian civilization, and a mission to "build a vast empire across the globe." Notably, Rubio's speech did not mention Russia, NATO, or China. Instead, he listed "fear of climate change, fear of war, fear of technology," and "mass migration" as primary dangers to the West, using the phrase "civilizational erasure."
Following the conference, Rubio traveled to Budapest, where he publicly met with Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán. He expressed President Trump's commitment to Orbán's success, stating, "your success is our success, because this relationship we have here in central Europe through you is so essential and vital for our national interests in the years to come." Orbán is considered an outlier within the European Union, known for criticizing democracy, supporting Russian President Vladimir Putin, and opposing military aid to Ukraine. Prior to his speech, Rubio had canceled a scheduled meeting on Ukraine's security.
Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez's Participation
Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez participated in two panels at the conference, one on populism and another on U.S. foreign policy. She emphasized that income inequality contributes to the rise of right-wing populism.
She also noted that the "rules-based order" has historically excluded the poor from its benefits and the powerful from its obligations, suggesting that the current period might be a "pre-rules-based order."
Ocasio-Cortez advocated for a "working-class-centered" policy to counter authoritarianism and expressed support for alliances with nations sharing democratic and human rights values, as well as adherence to treaties.
She did not fully detail the implications of a "working-class foreign policy" or how alliance commitments would affect the balance between social and defense spending. She also had an unscripted response to a question regarding the defense of Taiwan.
After the conference, Ocasio-Cortez met with left-liberal leaders in Berlin, including those from Germany’s Social Democratic Party (SPD) and the Left Party (Die Linke). She emphasized the importance of coalition-building.
Political groups must unite to prevent the right-wing from gaining power.
In Germany, the SPD and Die Linke combined hold fewer seats than the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party.