Rasmussen Global CEO Fabrice Pothier explains to Euronews that Rubio’s mention of a «shared fate» between the US and Europe did not symbolize an “olive branch”.

According to Fabrice Pothier, CEO of Rasmussen Global, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s remarks at the Munich Security Conference did not represent an «olive branch» extended to Europeans, but rather conveyed a feeling of «the calm before the next storm» in trans-Atlantic relations, as stated on Euronews’ flagship morning show Europe Today.

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Pothier, who formerly served as NATO’s Director of Policy Planning, noted that Rubio’s softened tone «serves mainly to ease the discomfort of recent months,» but acknowledged that Europeans remain «far from naive».

The longstanding alliance between the US and Europe has been under tension since Donald Trump’s presidency began, recently marked by a US national security strategy that criticized European institutions for «anti-democratic constraints» and warned about the «bleak prospect of civilizational disappearance» in the region.

«Many disagreements still lie ahead,» Pothier said, pointing to Russia’s conflict in Ukraine and Donald Trump’s ambitions concerning Greenland as key examples where mutual understanding is lacking.

Regarding Greenland, Pothier highlighted «a disconnect» between the compromise that the Danish and Greenlandic authorities are aiming for and Trump’s objectives.

«The US president approaches this with strong emotions; he simply wants to possess that territory,» explained Pothier. «His mindset resembles that of a real estate developer from Manhattan.»

The full interview can be watched above in the complete player.