Rubio declares 'old world is gone' as nations face new geopolitical era

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio delivered a stark assessment of contemporary international relations ahead of the Munich Security Conference, declaring that "the old world is gone" and nations must urgently recalibrate their strategic positions. "The world is changing very fast right in front of us. The old world is gone—frankly, the world that I grew up in—and we live in a new era in geopolitics," Rubio told reporters Thursday. He described the annual gathering as occurring at a "defining moment" requiring governments and allies to "reexamine what that looks like and what our role is going to be."

Ukraine, Hungary, and European Engagement

Rubio confirmed he expects to meet Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on the conference sidelines, characterizing Russia's winter bombardment campaign as "terrible" and emphasizing that ending the conflict remains a priority. "It's unimaginable suffering. That's the problem with wars. That's why wars are bad, and that's why we have worked so hard for over a year now to try to bring this one to an end," he stated. The secretary also addressed planned meetings with Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban and subsequent travel to Slovakia, framing these visits as reciprocation of prior bilateral engagement rather than signaling policy shifts.

Dismissing Disengagement Claims, Declining Comment on Energy

Rubio rejected suggestions that his travel itinerary indicates diminished American commitment to European security, insisting Washington remains "tightly linked" to the continent. When asked whether he would press Budapest and Bratislava to cease Russian energy purchases, the secretary declined to elaborate, stating such matters would be addressed through private diplomatic channels. His remarks precede a conference where transatlantic relations, Ukraine support, and the future of the international order dominate the agenda.