At the recent Munich Security Conference, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio delivered a significant address that contrasted sharply with Vice President J.D. Vance's previous confrontational approach. Rubio emphasized the need for a fundamental reevaluation of U.S. foreign policy, stating, "the fundamental question we must answer at the outset is what exactly are we defending, because armies do not fight for abstractions. Armies fight for a people; armies fight for a nation." This reflects a growing urgency for the West to reverse policies that have led to a managed decline, particularly as European nations have relied on U.S. military might while allowing their own defense capabilities to weaken. Observers noted that Rubio's serious tone was a welcome change from the previous year, where Vance's rhetoric alienated allies. Jonah Goldberg remarked that while Rubio's approach was refreshing, it did not fully address the complexities of the current geopolitical landscape, highlighting ongoing challenges facing the transatlantic alliance.