U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio's remarks at the Munich Security Conference have sparked significant backlash, particularly after he praised the colonial period as a time of Western 'expansion.' Critics, including Brussels-based commentator Shada Islam, have expressed concern that Rubio's rhetoric, which emphasizes defending a 'shared and superior American and European civilization' against 'contaminating racialized migrants,' echoes divisive narratives reminiscent of the U.S.-led 'war on terror.' Islam warns that this language could signal a 'chilling sequel' to the Islamophobia that emerged post-9/11, normalizing racism and hatred against Muslims and racialized minorities. She notes that while Rubio's tone may seem more diplomatic, it carries a conspiratorial edge, focusing on migration and identity rather than traditional security threats, raising alarms among European leaders about U.S. foreign policy and transatlantic unity.