US Senator Rubio delivers mixed messages to Europe, prompting pushback from EU leaders

US Senator Marco Rubio visited Europe and delivered a speech at the Munich Security Conference. His message combined criticism of the European Union with a call for continued partnership, which he described as a 'Valentine's Day message' urging Europe to change.

EU leaders, including top diplomat Kaja Kallas, pushed back against what they called 'Europe-bashing' from the US, specifically rejecting Rubio's claim that Europe is facing 'civilisational erasure'. Meanwhile, Chancellor Friedrich Merz argued that Europe needs to lose its 'nostalgia' for the United States.