US Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated that America seeks stronger partnerships and reduced dependency from European allies, during a joint press conference in Bratislava with Slovakian Prime Minister Robert Fico, amid ongoing discussions on military cooperation and support for Ukraine.

Hungary’s main opposition leader Péter Magyar accused the government of blackmail using a secretly recorded sex tape to discredit him. He called for respect for privacy and urged voters to mark the upcoming elections, where his Tisza Party leads opinion polls.

Kaja Kallas, Estonia’s Prime Minister, rejected US Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s claims of Europe’s civilisational decline at the Munich Security Conference, asserting that the EU remains an attractive political project amid criticism over migration and climate policies.

European Commissioner for Sport Glenn Micallef expressed respect for the International Olympic Committee’s decision to disqualify Ukrainian skeleton racer Vladyslav Heraskevych over his helmet depicting fallen athletes, stating he was saddened the issue could not be amicably resolved ahead of the 2026 Winter Olympics.

Friedrich Merz, German Chancellor, declared at the Munich Security Conference that the longstanding global order “no longer exists,” warning the US against isolation in current power politics. He emphasised the urgency for democratic countries to rethink security strategies amid rising threats.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio called on Europe to collaborate with the US in a “civilisational quest” to address the West’s challenges at the Munich Security Conference. He urged shared principles to strengthen historical ties amid ongoing geopolitical tensions.