Secretary Rubio to Lead U.S. Delegation to Munich Security Conference
WASHINGTON — U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio will travel to Germany this week to lead the United States delegation at the 62nd Munich Security Conference (MSC), the State Department confirmed on Tuesday. Secretary Rubio is scheduled to arrive in Munich on February 13, joining dozens of heads of state and government for the three-day summit known as the “Davos of Defense.”
The Secretary’s attendance comes at a pivotal moment for the transatlantic alliance. Following a contentious appearance by Vice President J.D. Vance at last year’s forum, where sharp critiques of European defense spending and social policies dominated headlines, officials indicate that Secretary Rubio intends to focus on “pragmatic security cooperation.” He is expected to address the administration’s evolving foreign policy priorities, including the ongoing peace negotiations regarding the war in Ukraine, the security of critical mineral supply chains, and containment strategies for emerging threats in the Indo-Pacific.
“The Secretary looks forward to engaging with our European partners to address the shared challenges facing the global order,” a State Department spokesperson said. “From energy security to the defense industrial base, the United States remains committed to a frank and productive dialogue.”
The 2026 conference, hosted at the Hotel Bayerischer Hof, will also see the debut of Friedrich Merz as German Chancellor on the international security stage. The interactions between the U.S. delegation and the new German leadership will be closely watched as both nations navigate a complex geopolitical landscape described in this year’s Munich Security Report as being “Under Destruction.”
Secretary Rubio will be accompanied by a bipartisan congressional delegation, reportedly including high-profile figures such as California Governor Gavin Newsom and Senator Lindsey Graham, signaling a unified front on key national security interests. In addition to the main plenary sessions, Rubio is expected to hold bilateral meetings with counterparts from NATO member states and potentially participate in sideline discussions regarding the stalled diplomatic tracks with Iran.
The conference runs from February 13 to February 15. Secretary Rubio is expected to deliver a keynote address on Saturday, outlining the administration’s vision for the future of the Atlantic alliance and the conditions required for a sustainable resolution to the conflict in Eastern Europe.
* alarabiya.net
* securityconference.org
* securityconference.org
* climate-diplomacy.org
* wikipedia.org
