Friend or foe? – Do Rubio's words in Munich change anything for Europe?

This Is Not A Drill with Gavin Esler

Podmasters

News, Society & Culture, Politics

4.9 • 1.6K Ratings

🗓️ 19 February 2026

⏱️ 26 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

What a difference a year makes - or does it? The 2025 Munich Security Conference was shocked by divisive words from the US Vice President JD Vance. But at this year’s gathering, Marco Rubio represented America and struck a more conciliatory tone. What does this mean for Europe? Gavin Esler is joined by Dr. Liana Fix, senior fellow for Europe at the Council on Foreign Relations, to discuss. Advertisers! Want to reach smart, engaged, influential people with money to spend? (Yes, they do exist). Some 3.5 MILLION people download and watch our podcasts every month – and they love our shows. Why not get YOUR brand in front of our influential listeners with podcast advertising? Contact ads@podmasters.co.uk to find out more. • Support us on Patreon to keep This Is Not A Drill producing thought-provoking podcasts like this. Written and presented by Gavin Esler. Produced by Robin Leeburn. Original theme music by Paul Hartnoll – https://www.orbitalofficial.com. Executive Producer Martin Bojtos. Managing Editor Jacob Jarvis. Group Editor Andrew Harrison. This Is Not A Drill is a Podmasters production. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Transcript

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1:35.1	What a difference a year makes, or does it?
1:38.2	The Munich Security Conference brings together politicians, diplomats, military and national security experts to discuss, as the name suggests,
1:46.2	international security issues and, in essence, the future of NATO and the transatlantic relationship.
1:52.2	The 2025 conference was enlivened, in fact shocked by some fairly brutal and ultimately divisive words
1:59.4	from the US Vice President J.D. Vance.
	...

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