The Briefing What to expect from the Munich Security Conference in a new era of diplomacy
Feb 12, 2026
Valentina Marche, former Italian national skater who moved from singles to pairs, shares career snapshots. Fernando Augusto Pacheco, Monocle music and culture correspondent, serves up Carnival season picks and global music trends. Andrew Muller, Monocle international affairs reporter, previews Munich Security Conference logistics, moods and key diplomatic moments. Multiple short conversations cover travel disruptions, transatlantic tensions and cultural highlights.
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Rubio As The Transatlantic Litmus Test
- Marco Rubio is presented as a traditional Republican who values the transatlantic alliance.
- His Munich speech will signal whether Washington seeks repair or further divergence with Europe.
European Anger Has Real Leverage
- Europeans are increasingly furious with the US after a year of provocative remarks and actions.
- That anger, not theatrics, likely forced Washington to back down on the Greenland episode.
Pragmatism Over Grand Plans On Greenland
- Greenland talks illustrate practical diplomacy: the US could build bases without buying territory.
- Rubio may opt for pragmatic reassurance rather than grandiose schemes to mend fences.