At the Munich Security Conference on February 20, 2026, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio delivered a speech advocating for a Christian-centric Western civilization with an imperial mandate. Rubio's address, analyzed by Oliver Marquart, glorified colonialism and questioned self-determination, presenting a significant challenge to Europe. He framed the historical expansion of Western powers, including missionaries, pilgrims, soldiers, and explorers, as a divinely ordained mission to spread Christianity and civilizational superiority. Rubio dismissed criticisms of colonial actions as "alleged sins" and implicitly rejected the principle of self-determination for colonized peoples, suggesting a revival of past imperial ambitions and a global dominance based on Christian identity and perceived cultural supremacy.