Rubio Visits Slovakia, Hungary to Bolster Ties in Eastern Europe

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio kicked off a two-day excursion of Eastern Europe on Feb. 15, visiting the conservative leaders of Slovakia and Hungary to bolster ties with both nations. The U.S. State Department said last week that Rubio plans to discuss bilateral issues, including NATO responsibilities, as well as energy cooperation. Before leaving the United States for Europe on Feb. 12, Rubio told reporters, “These are countries that are very strong with us, very cooperative with the United States, work very closely with us.” Simultaneously serving as U.S. President Donald Trump’s national security adviser, Rubio greeted Slovak President Peter Pellegrini on Feb. 15 after arriving in Bratislava. The discussions focused on energy and defense and marked the first visit by a U.S. secretary of state in the past seven years....