Rubio visits Slovakia and Hungary to bolster ties with pro-Trump leaders

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio began a two-day visit to Slovakia and Hungary to discuss energy cooperation, defence and NATO commitments, meeting Slovak leaders Peter Pellegrini and Robert Fico and is expected to meet Hungary's Viktor Orban on Monday.

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio began a two-day visit to eastern Europe, stopping in Slovakia and Hungary. The trip is framed around discussions of energy cooperation, defence and NATO commitments. Rubio met Slovak President Peter Pellegrini on arrival and later met Prime Minister Robert Fico. He is expected to meet Hungarian leader Viktor Orban on Monday. Key points: - Rubio's visit is described as a two-day trip to Slovakia and Hungary to discuss bilateral issues and energy cooperation. - The meeting with Slovak President Peter Pellegrini was the first visit by a U.S. Secretary of State to Slovakia in seven years, and talks included defence cooperation and NATO commitments. - Rubio also met Prime Minister Robert Fico, who recently visited U.S. officials, and the article notes Slovakia signed a nuclear cooperation agreement with the United States last month. - The visit follows Rubio's attendance at the Munich Security Conference and includes an expected meeting with Hungarian leader Viktor Orban, who is facing an election in April. - The article reports that both Fico and Orban have clashed with EU institutions, maintained ties with Russia, and differed from other EU countries on energy purchases and NATO spending levels. Summary: The trip represents continued U.S. engagement with Slovakia and Hungary on energy, defence and NATO-related matters amid broader disagreements within the EU over ties to Russia and defence spending. Rubio is expected to meet Viktor Orban next; further outcomes from the visit are undetermined at this time.