Rubio Takes Aim at Deindustrialisation and Mass Migration

US Senator Marco Rubio has warned that Europe faces mounting long-term risks from deindustrialisation and uncontrolled migration, arguing that economic decline and social strain could weaken the continent’s global standing.

Speaking at a policy forum in Washington, Rubio said that “strategic complacency” had left parts of Europe vulnerable to energy shocks, manufacturing losses and political fragmentation. He pointed to the relocation of heavy industry to Asia and North America as a sign that Europe’s industrial base is under pressure.

Rubio suggested that high energy costs, regulatory burdens and geopolitical tensions — particularly since the war in Ukraine — have accelerated factory closures across parts of the European Union. He argued that a shrinking industrial base could undermine economic resilience and reduce Europe’s leverage in global trade.

European leaders, however, have defended recent green transition policies, saying they are designed to modernise industries rather than dismantle them. Officials in European Union institutions maintain that investment in renewable energy and advanced manufacturing will create new long-term growth opportunities.

Rubio also criticised what he described as “mass migration without integration,” warning that social cohesion and public services could be strained if governments fail to manage border controls effectively.

Migration remains a divisive issue across Europe, with countries such as Germany and Italy facing domestic political pressure over asylum systems and border enforcement. European policymakers have recently pushed for stricter asylum reforms and enhanced cooperation with transit countries.

Rubio framed his remarks in the context of transatlantic security, suggesting that a weaker Europe would also affect the United States. “A stable, prosperous Europe is in America’s interest,” he said, adding that economic vitality and secure borders are key pillars of that stability.

Critics of Rubio’s comments argue that Europe’s challenges are more nuanced and that migration can provide economic benefits in ageing societies. They also say industrial transitions are part of broader global shifts rather than signs of irreversible decline.

As debates over economic policy and migration intensify on both sides of the Atlantic, Rubio’s intervention highlights how Europe’s internal struggles are increasingly becoming a talking point in US political discourse.