The DSR Network The More the World Hears from the US, the More Confused it Gets
Feb 18, 2026
Max Boot, CFR foreign-policy analyst; Rosa Brooks, Georgetown law professor and policy thinker; Ed Luce, Financial Times columnist. They debate Munich’s shockwaves for Europe and perceptions of US unpredictability. They dissect Rubio’s Munich moves, transatlantic unease, and the scramble for credible Democratic foreign-policy voices. Tension, symbolism, and political jockeying take center stage.
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Europe's Shocked Shift Toward Strategic Independence
- Munich showed deep European shock and fear about U.S. reliability on security commitments.
- That shock is driving serious talk in Europe about building defense capabilities independent of the U.S.
Tone Didn't Mask Substance
- Rubio's Munich speech was seen as a toned-down echo of J.D. Vance and reflected ethno-nationalist themes.
- Even milder rhetoric can't mask the administration's underlying unpredictability and damage to allied trust.
Rubio Stopped A Russia-Friendly Peace Push
- Max Boot recounted Rubio intervening in Ukraine negotiations to stop a Russian-backed peace plan from being imposed on Kyiv.
- Rubio's action helped Ukraine avoid a trap crafted by Trump's peace envoys.