Rubio outlines the relationship with Europe: a partnership without dependency and a firm stance on Navalny
In notable remarks reflecting the new direction of US foreign policy under President Donald Trump's administration, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio affirmed that the United States seeks to build a genuine partnership with Europe, moving away from notions of dependency or total reliance. This came during his official visit to Slovakia, which followed his participation in the Munich Security Conference, the world's foremost event for discussing defense policies.
A new vision for transatlantic relations
In elaborating on his remarks, Rubio clarified that Washington welcomes Europe's efforts to strengthen its strategic independence and reduce its chronic dependence on the United States in security and political matters. Rubio stated unequivocally: "We don't want Europe to be subservient to the United States. We want to be your partners. We want to work with Europe, and we want to work with our allies.".
These statements come within a historical context connected to the vision of President Donald Trump, who, during his first term, consistently criticized what he termed Europe's "exploitation" of the American security umbrella, demanding that NATO countries increase their defense spending and shoulder the burden of protecting the continent. Analysts suggest that Rubio's remarks aim to reassure allies that the call for "non-alignment" does not signify an American abandonment of Europe, but rather a push towards a more balanced alliance and a fairer distribution of responsibilities, particularly in light of escalating global geopolitical challenges.
Navalny case: US-European consensus
On another front, the US Secretary of State addressed the thorny human rights and political issues with Russia, specifically the death of prominent Russian opposition figure Alexei Navalny. Rubio announced his country's full support for the findings of the investigation conducted by five European countries (Britain, France, Germany, Sweden, and the Netherlands), which concluded that Navalny was poisoned in prison.
"Of course, we have no reason to doubt it, and we do not disagree with it," Rubio said during a joint press conference with Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico in Bratislava, referring to American confidence in the intelligence and investigative institutions of European allies.
Dimensions of the accusation and its international impact
On Saturday, the five European countries directly accused Moscow of poisoning Navalny, who died in 2014, using a "rare toxic substance." This US-European consensus on the Navalny case carries significant political implications; it underscores that despite potential disagreements over defense mechanisms and financial spending, the Western bloc remains united in its stance on human rights issues and the violations attributed to Russia. This position sends a unified message to the Kremlin that Washington, even under its new policies, will not tolerate the elimination of political opponents.
