US Diplomat Marco Rubio Meets with Conservative Leaders in Eastern Europe

TheUnited States'top diplomatMarco Rubiotraveled to Eastern Europe on Sunday for talks with the conservative leaders ofHungaryand Slovakia, both of whom are aligned with US PresidentDonald Trump. The visit comes a day after Rubio, who is also Trump’s national security advisor, urged Europeans todefend “Western civilization”in a speech at the Munich Security Conference. Hungary’sViktor OrbanandSlovakia’sRobert Fico are often viewed as disruptive voices within theEuropean Unionand have continued purchasingRussianenergy despiteMoscow’s war in Ukraine. To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser thatsupports HTML5 video In Bratislava, Rubio first met Slovak President Peter Pellegrini before discussions with nationalist Prime Minister Robert Fico, who visited the White House last month. Pellegrini's office said in a statement that the pair discussed "defense cooperation and the fulfillment of ​commitments arising from ‌NATOsummits." Following talks with Fico, Rubio expanded on the warmer tone intransatlantic tieshe displayed in Munich, saying, "We're not asking Europe to be a vassal of the United States." "We want to be your partner. We want to work with Europe. We want to work with our allies," the US diplomat added. Fico, meanwhile, told reporters he hoped a deal for US-based Westinghouse to build a new nuclear power plant in Slovakia would be signed in the coming year. Slovakia signed an agreement with the US on nuclear cooperation during Fico's Washington trip. Fico also said Slovakia is interested ‌in buying ⁠another ⁠four ​F-16 fighter ​jets from ​the US to make ‌18 in ‌total. On Monday, Rubio will meet Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, whom Trump has described as a "strong and powerful man." Orban is facing a tough battle for reelection on April 12, with recent opinion polls suggesting he may lack the public support to win against opposition leader Peter Magyar's TISZA party. The Hungarian leader is often seen as a thorn in the EU's side, using hisveto powerand nationalist agenda to push back against deeper integration, migration and the bloc's Russia policy. On Saturday, he used a campaign speech to declare thatBrussels was more of a threatto his country than Moscow. He has also offeredasylum to EU lawmakersaccused of corruption. Orban's rhetoric and politics often echo those of Trump and he has cast himself as a European friend of the US president's MAGA movement. Orban has also confirmed plans to travel to Washington next week to attend the inaugural meeting of Trump's "Board of Peace." Ahead of the talks, US officials said Washington intends to strengthen energy ties with its two right-wing European allies. The US State Department said the trip would focus on energy ⁠cooperation ⁠and bilateral issues, including NATO commitments. Slovakia, along with Hungary, has so far diverged from Trump's demand that all NATO members significantly increase military spending to 5% of GDP, so far committing to the minimum threshold of 2%. Both countries depend heavily on Russian fossil fuels, leading toclashes with Brusselsover the decision to cut EU reliance on imports from Moscow. The two nations have opposed efforts by EU states to send military aid to Ukraine. Both Orban and Fico have also clashed with Brussels over accusations they are backsliding on democratic rules. To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser thatsupports HTML5 video Edited by: Louis Oelofse