U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio pledged to strengthen ties with central Europe on Sunday as he began a diplomatic tour of Slovakia and Hungary, nations led by conservatives who maintain close relations with President Donald Trump.
Rubio's visit marks the first by a U.S. secretary of state to Slovakia in seven years. The country, home to 5.5 million people and sharing a border with Ukraine, has relied heavily on Russian oil and gas, contributing to its tense dynamics with other European Union members.
In Slovakia, Rubio held discussions on energy and defense issues with Prime Minister Robert Fico and President Peter Pellegrini, emphasizing practical collaboration over mere diplomacy.
"Under President Trump, this administration is going to make not just Slovakia but central Europe a key component of how we engage the continent and the world," Rubio stated during the talks.
He added, "We are not just going to engage in meetings and pleasantries, but in concrete actions that we will take together in ways that are beneficial to your people and our people."
Following his engagements in Slovakia, Rubio arrived in Budapest, Hungary, where he was greeted by Hungary's Deputy Foreign Minister Levente Magyar at Budapest Airport on February 15.
Like Slovakia, Hungary depends on Russian energy supplies and has pursued an independent path within the EU, aligning its leadership with pro-Trump sentiments in Washington.
