OPINION | Munich, the return of civilisational dogma and India’s new reality

Marco Rubio's interpretation of colonial history will be distasteful to large parts of the world

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s address at the Munich Security Conference was not a routine diplomatic speech. It was a statement of identity and intent. It revealed an America that now speaks in the language of civilisation, sovereignty and strength, rather than institutions and global consensus.

The tone was assertive and emotionally charged.

MAGA doctrine guides foreign policy

When read alongside the 2025 National Security Strategy and last year’s 'cancel speech', the continuity is clear. The political energy that reshaped domestic American debate under the MAGA banner now frames foreign policy. What began as campaign language has become governing doctrine.

For much of the post-Cold War era, Washington framed its role in universal terms. Democracy, human rights and a rules-based international order dominated official discourse. In Munich, that vocabulary receded. Rubio spoke of Western civilisation as a shared inheritance. He invoked Christianity, ancestry, culture and continuity. He stated that armies fight for a people and a way of life.

Migration was described as affecting social cohesion and continuity. Border control was presented as a core act of sovereignty. Deindustrialisation was linked to strategic weakness. The message was that the West must regain control of its economic base, its borders and its future.

A view of colonialism that’s unacceptable to most of the world

The historical narrative was emphatic. Rubio referred to centuries of Western expansion: missionaries, explorers, settlers and soldiers crossing oceans and building vast empires. Western civilisation extending across continents and shaping global institutions. This expansion was presented as dynamism and vitality, all of which were at its zenith in colonial times. The speech did not address the coercive aspects of that era. The emphasis remained on pride, continuity and achievement.

This tone aligns with the domestic political mood in the United States. The MAGA movement places emphasis on national pride, industrial revival and sovereign control. It rejects narratives of decline. Last year’s 'cancel speech' expressed a refusal to frame American history in terms of apology. Munich extended that posture to the international arena. Civilisational confidence was presented as a strategic asset.

Downgrading the role of global bodies

International institutions were discussed in functional terms. Rubio argued that global bodies have struggled to resolve major crises. He credited American leadership and decisive action with shaping developments in Gaza, Ukraine diplomacy, Iran and Venezuela. The underlying principle was that power enables diplomacy and that sovereign states must retain freedom of action.

The 2025 National Security Strategy of December 2025 laid the foundation for this approach. It placed sovereignty at the centre of national security. It connected industrial strength with strategic resilience. It treated migration as a security concern. It emphasised regional focus, particularly in the Western Hemisphere. Munich reinforced these themes with stronger cultural language.

Europe’s hedging its bets through diversification

For Europe, the speech combined reassurance with expectation. The alliance was affirmed. Greater defence spending and industrial capacity were encouraged. Border security and burden-sharing were emphasised. The standing ovation reflected appreciation for continued partnership but raises questions for the Global South regarding European alignment to this ideology.

At the same time, several European governments are expanding their external engagements. Momentum in European Union and India Free Trade Agreement negotiations reflects a broader desire to diversify strategic and economic relationships.

Implications for India

For India, the implications are substantial.

There is opportunity. A sovereignty-centred America values strong nation-states that defend their autonomy. India’s strategic culture emphasises territorial integrity, economic growth and independent decision-making.

Supply chain adjustments away from China may support India’s manufacturing ambitions. Engagement framed around interests creates space for practical cooperation.

There is also the need for balance. The civilisational framing in Munich places the Atlantic world at the centre of American identity. India does not sit within that cultural frame. Cooperation will therefore depend on clear strategic alignment. Trade, technology access and defence collaboration will rest on negotiation and reciprocity.

European diversification reinforces a long-standing Indian principle: multi-alignment remains essential. As Western alliances adjust to domestic political transformation, India benefits from maintaining strong relations with the US, deepening economic ties with Europe and sustaining engagement with other major powers.

Takeaways from Munich

Munich was a statement of direction. It fused identity with strategy and pride with power. It projected a US that sees itself as the guardian of Western civilisation and defender of sovereign interests. Yet for countries like India, whose experience of colonial rule was marked by subordination and economic extraction, the era described as a civilisational zenith evokes a very different memory.

For India, the prudent response is steady engagement anchored in realism. Strengthen cooperation where interests converge. Preserve autonomy where they diverge. Maintain diversified partnerships. In a world where major powers increasingly speak in the language of heritage and destiny, adroit strategic balancing and singlemindedly building national power remain India’s enduring paths to a dignified destiny.

(Anil Raman is a Research Fellow at the Takshashila Institution.)

Views are personal, and do not represent the stand of this publication.