School of War Ep 275: Michael Baumgartner on Marco Rubio’s Speech and the Future of Europe
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Feb 17, 2026 Michael Baumgartner, U.S. Representative and former diplomat with service in Iraq and Afghanistan, shares on-the-ground impressions from the Munich Security Conference. He discusses Europe's economic and energy dilemmas. He breaks down Marco Rubio’s stirring speech and its reception. He also covers NATO alignment, China’s shadow presence, Ukraine leverage, and strategic approaches to Iran.
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Start Policy With Voters
- Baumgartner argues you must start with voters to understand European policy shifts, such as Germany's nuclear phase-out driven by the green movement.
- Political preferences constrain practical choices like energy and defense investments.
Private Credit For Pushing Europeans
- Some European business leaders privately credit Donald Trump for pushing Europeans to increase defense spending and take security more seriously.
- That private gratitude coexists with public critique and political theater.
Industrial Base Determines Defense
- Europe's future depends on building an integrated industrial base and power grid to sustain modern militaries.
- Without coordinated procurement and industrial capacity, independent rearmament will be unaffordable and fragmented.
