Rubio: US seeks strong European partners, not 'slaves' or vassals

By Ahmet Taş | Wise News Press

BRATISLAVA, SLOVAKIA — US Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated that Washington does not want its European allies to remain in a "vassal" position, expressing a desire for stronger partners who are less dependent on the United States.

According to EuroNews, Rubio made these remarks during a joint press conference with Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico in Bratislava on Sunday. Slovakia marks the first stop of Rubio’s two-day Central European tour following his participation in the Munich Security Conference. The top US diplomat is scheduled to travel to Hungary next to meet with Prime Minister Viktor Orbán to discuss bilateral relations and the Trump administration’s regional goals.

"We want partners, not slaves"

Addressing concerns regarding the potential withdrawal of US troops from Europe, Rubio clarified that shifting a limited number of personnel does not signal a departure from NATO. He emphasized that the United States does not wish to weaken Europe but rather to see it grow more self-sufficient.

“We are not leaving NATO. We might move a few thousand soldiers from one country to another; this is something that happens all the time,” Rubio stated. He further added, “We don't want Europe to be dependent on us. We don't want Europe to be the slave of the US. We want to be partners. The stronger you are, the stronger NATO members are, the stronger NATO becomes.”

Fico criticizes EU’s Ukraine policy

During the meeting, Rubio and Fico also discussed military cooperation and peace efforts regarding the war in Ukraine, which is entering its fourth year this month. Prime Minister Fico, known for his close alignment with the Trump administration’s vision on migration and ending the conflict, used the platform to criticize the European Union’s current financial approach toward Kyiv.

Fico highlighted that Slovakia, Hungary, and the Czech Republic abstained from the EU’s 90-billion-euro support package for Ukraine in December. “The EU is providing 90 billion euros in credit to Ukraine; 60 billion of this goes to weapons,” Fico stated, adding that he was “proud” not to participate in a policy he believes prolongs the conflict and increases casualties.

Energy security and the Hungary visit

The Slovak leader also raised concerns regarding the EU’s plan to phase out Russian fossil fuel imports by 2027, noting that the lack of an LNG terminal in Slovakia could create severe infrastructure challenges. These themes of energy and regional stability are expected to dominate Rubio’s upcoming meeting in Budapest.

According to the US State Department, Rubio’s talks with Viktor Orbán will focus on the "peace process for global conflicts" and US-Hungary energy cooperation. Despite occasional disagreements on issues like US military operations in Venezuela, Rubio maintained that such friction is a natural part of any alliance. “Allies may have disagreements from time to time; that does not mean the friendship is over,” the Secretary concluded.

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