Head-on | Rubio’s claim of a Western century is a myth: A declining West needs Global South to survive

At the 2026 Munich Security Conference, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio presented a conciliatory vision, framing the West’s “managed decline” while emphasizing unity with the rising Global South. Echoing Trump-era ambitions of Western supremacy, Rubio urged Europe to reclaim leadership alongside the US, highlighting shared civilisation, culture, and values. However, structural fissures remain, with domestic pressures on the Trump administration and US economic and political challenges. The broader takeaway is clear: the 21st century will be shaped not by unilateral Western dominance but through collaboration between a declining West and an ascendant Global South, balancing innovation, market influence, and global governance.