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Opinion

Rubio’s Munich Speech Echoes a Century of Western Leaders

The US secretary of state is calling for a renewed transatlantic alliance to reclaim and revive a declining West. 
Rubio’s Munich Speech Echoes a Century of Western Leaders
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio speaks at the 62nd Munich Security Conference in Munich, Germany, on Feb. 14, 2026. Alex Brandon/Pool/AFP via Getty Images
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Commentary
“Tolerance does not mean ‘anything goes.’ There must be zero tolerance towards all those who show no respect for the inalienable rights of the individual and who violate human rights. Zero tolerance must also be shown if, for example, weapons of mass destruction fall into the hands of Iran and possibly threaten our security. Iran must be aware of this. Iran knows our offer, but Iran also knows where we draw the line: A nuclear bomb in the hands of an Iranian President who denies the Holocaust, threatens Israel and denies Israel the right to exist, is not acceptable!”