US Secretary of State Begins Central Europe Trip After Munich Conference
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio is set to begin a two-day trip on Sunday to strengthen relations with Slovakia and Hungary, whose conservative leaders have close ties with US President Donald Trump despite frequent differences with other European Union states.
According to the US State Department, Rubio will use the visit to discuss energy cooperation and a range of bilateral issues, including NATO commitments. Speaking to reporters before departing for Europe on Thursday, Rubio said both countries maintain strong and cooperative relations with Washington and noted it was his first visit to either state.
Rubio, who also serves as President Trump’s national security adviser, will meet Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico in Bratislava on Sunday. Fico visited President Trump in Florida last month. The visit follows Rubio’s participation in the Munich Security Conference.
On Monday, Rubio is expected to meet Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, who faces an election in April amid polls suggesting a close race. Rubio said President Trump is supportive of Orban, adding that the meeting is being conducted as a bilateral visit.
Both Fico and Orban have clashed with European Union institutions over concerns about democratic standards and have maintained ties with Russia. They have criticized and at times delayed EU sanctions on Moscow and opposed military aid to Ukraine. Despite wider EU efforts to reduce dependence on Russian energy following Moscow’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine, Slovakia and Hungary have continued to import Russian gas and oil, a practice criticised by the United States.
Rubio said energy dependence would be discussed during the visit but provided no further details.
Both countries meet NATO’s minimum defence spending requirement of 2 percent of GDP, though they have so far resisted calls from President Trump for members to raise spending to 5 percent. Fico has ruled out increasing defence expenditure beyond current levels, while Hungary has budgeted for 2 percent spending this year.
On nuclear cooperation, Slovakia signed an agreement with the United States last month. Fico has said US-based Westinghouse is likely to build a new nuclear power plant, while also welcoming potential participation from other companies, including France’s Framatome.
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