Blurb:
Rubio visits Slovakia and Hungary to strengthen bilateral and NATO ties amid EU tensions.
Munich
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio began a two-day trip to eastern Europe on Sunday, aiming to deepen diplomatic and strategic cooperation with Slovakia and Hungary. The visit comes at a time when both nations, led by conservative governments, have maintained relatively warm ties with U.S. President Donald Trump, even as they have occasionally found themselves at odds with other European Union members.
According to the U.S. State Department, the trip is focused on strengthening energy cooperation and discussing key bilateral issues, including defense spending and commitments to NATO. Speaking to reporters before departing last week, Rubio described both countries as strong and cooperative partners of the United States, emphasizing their close working relationship with Washington.
Rubio, who also serves in a dual capacity as Trump’s national security adviser, began his visit in the Slovak capital, Bratislava. There, he met with Slovak President Peter Pellegrini to discuss regional security and economic collaboration. The talks were seen as an effort to reinforce transatlantic ties amid ongoing geopolitical uncertainty in Europe.
Later on Sunday, Rubio was scheduled to meet Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico, who recently traveled to Florida to meet President Trump. Analysts say the meeting could further underline the alignment between Washington and Bratislava on key strategic and political issues.
The diplomatic tour follows Rubio’s participation in the Munich Security Conference, where global leaders gathered to address pressing international security challenges.
On Monday, Rubio is expected to travel to Budapest for talks with Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban. Orban, who faces a closely watched election in April and trails in several opinion polls, remains one of Europe’s most prominent conservative leaders. Rubio’s visit signals Washington’s continued engagement with central European partners at a critical political moment for the region.
