TL:DR – US Secretary of State Marco Rubio meets Slovakia’s Prime Minister Fico
• On Sunday, 15 February 2026, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio began a Central European tour in Bratislava, meeting Slovakia’s Prime Minister Robert Fico.
• Rubio will visit Hungary’s Prime Minister Viktor Orbán on Monday, 16 February 2026.
• The US aims to strengthen cooperation with Slovakia on nuclear energy and army modernisation, according to the State Department.
• Hungary and Slovakia continue to import fossil fuels from Russia despite EU opposition.
• Rubio’s discussions will also address the US-Hungary energy partnership and global conflict resolution.
US Secratary of State Rubio tours Central Europe to bolster ties with Trump allies Fico and Orbán
Published on 15/02/2026 – 12:10 GMT+1
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio began his Central European tour in Bratislava, Slovakia, on Sunday, where he held talks with Prime Minister Robert Fico. Rubio’s visit is significant as it highlights the United States‘ efforts to strengthen alliances with key allies in Europe, particularly in areas such as energy and military cooperation.
According to the State Department, the US aims to enhance collaboration with Slovakia on nuclear energy and the modernisation of its army. This visit follows Rubio’s earlier speech at the Munich Security Conference, where he underscored the necessity of reversing Europe’s cultural and economic decline and addressing the issue of mass migration.
Rubio meets Robert Fico, a leftist Trump supporter
During his meeting, Marco Rubio discussed increased cooperation with Slovakia on various fronts, including energy diversification and potential nuclear deals. Prime Minister Robert Fico recently visited former President Donald Trump at Mar-a-Lago to discuss Slovakia’s plans to purchase nuclear reactors from the US, a project estimated to be worth between €13 billion and €15 billion, potentially involving the US company Westinghouse.
Fico, a leftist nationalist politician, aligns with Trump’s views on immigration and the ongoing war in Ukraine, openly criticising the European Union’s approach to both. Slovakia, alongside Hungary, continues to depend on Russian energy supplies and has expressed dissent towards the EU’s plans to transition away from Russian fossil fuels.
Rubio to visit Hungary’s Orbán on Monday
Following his visit to Slovakia, Marco Rubio is scheduled to meet Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán on Monday. The discussions will centre on the US-Hungary energy partnership and global conflict resolution.
Hungary’s alignment with Trump’s political agenda is notable, particularly regarding migration and criticisms of the EU’s environmental policies. In recent agreements, the US granted Hungary exemptions from secondary tariffs on Russian oil imports and established a deal for LNG imports from the US with Chevron. Prime Minister Orbán has invited Trump to visit Hungary during the upcoming electoral campaign, which poses significant challenges for Orbán as he faces strong opposition in opinion polls.
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