-The trip demonstrates the importance that the United States places on its frontline allies.
-It shows the rising importance of defense-industrial cooperation with the United States.
-The visit rolls back skepticism that the United States has retreated from the international security area.
-It emphasizes that the primary foreign policy orientation of allies should be vectored westward, not eastward.
United States Secretary of State Mike Pompeo is on a tour of Central Europe. The Secretary visited Slovakia on 12 February following a visit to Hungary and is currently in Poland. The trip is focused on countering the growing influence of Russia and China in Central Europe. It is the most significant Central European tour by America’s top diplomat in recent years and showcases the Trump administration’s new approach to engagement with Central European allies.
During his stay in Hungary, Pompeo made progress on the signing of a new defense cooperation agreement between Washington and Budapest, which has long been stalled. In addition to the Administration’s emphasis on engagement, Pompeo also met with civil society groups in Budapest.
Pompeo is now in neighboring Poland for a conference on the Middle East which U.S. Vice President Mike Pence is also scheuled to attend.
Europe’s Edge is CEPA’s online journal covering critical topics on the foreign policy docket across Europe and North America. All opinions are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the position or views of the institutions they represent or the Center for European Policy Analysis.
