During his recent trip to Europe, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio emphasized the importance of the transatlantic alliance while addressing European leaders at the Munich Security Conference. He stated, 'We are part of one civilization: Western civilization,' aiming to reassure allies of the US commitment to shared values despite ongoing tensions. European officials expressed relief at Rubio's less caustic tone compared to previous US representatives, particularly in contrast to Vice President JD Vance's remarks a year ago. However, they noted that the core message of the Trump administration remains largely unchanged, indicating that the transatlantic rift persists, as highlighted by the New York Times.