Wadephul says he is assured about the US commitment to Europe скачать в хорошем качестве

Wadephul says he is assured about the US commitment to Europe

(13 Feb 2026) RESTRICTION SUMMARY: ++QUALITY AS INCOMING++ ASSOCIATED PRESS Munich, Germany - 13 February 2026 1. Various of German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul arriving at a news conference 2. SOUNDBITE (German) Johann Wadephul, German Foreign Minister: "I have now heard from Marco Rubio that he once again emphasized how close the ties to Europe are and this is also a firm component of American foreign policy. This is how I know Marco Rubio, this is how we know American foreign and security policy. Therefore, I look forward to his speech, his appearance, and the conversations we can have with him with joy and also with the hope that we can strengthen the firm bond we have with each other. I have said that there are irritations. There have also been words in the past that many here in Europe found disconcerting. But I have already witnessed senators in the first discussion rounds who clearly stand by the United States' commitment to Europe. And we should reciprocate that. This relationship needs work. And therefore, we are pleased that Marco Rubio is coming to Germany." 3. Wide of Wadephul leaving the news conference 4. Various of German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius arriving for his doorstep 5. SOUNDBITE (English) Boris Pistorius, German Defense Minister: "America is still an ally. I don't know why you doubt it." 6. Wide of Pistorius leaving STORYLINE: German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul said he is assured about the United States’ commitment to Europe, but stressed the relationship “needs work”. “There have also been words in the past that many here in Europe found disconcerting. But I have already witnessed senators in the first discussion rounds who clearly stand by the United States' commitment to Europe,” Wadephul told the media on Friday. German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius backed Wadephul’s comments, saying the US is an ally. "I don't know why you doubt it," he said. It comes as top European officials have arrived for the Munich Security Conference on Friday, an annual gathering of top international security figures. The conference opens with a speech by German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, one of 15 heads of state or government from European Union countries expected to attend. The many other expected guests at the conference, which runs until Sunday, include Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi. In keeping with the conference's tradition, there will also be a large delegation of members of the US Congress. At last year's conference, held a few weeks into US President Donald Trump's second term, Vice President JD Vance stunned European leaders by lecturing them about the state of democracy on the continent. With Rubio heading the US delegation this year, European leaders can hope for a less contentious approach more focused on traditional global security concerns. Rubio is expected to meet with Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen and Greenlandic Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen on the sidelines of the conference, according to officials from both sides, one of many bilateral meetings going on in and around the hotel that hosts the event. Rubio arrived in Munich on Friday and is due to address the conference on Saturday morning. Since last year's Munich conference, NATO allies have agreed under pressure from Trump to a large increase in their defense spending target. AP video shot by Philipp-Moritz Jenne =========================================================== Find out more about AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/HowWeWork Twitter:   / ap_archive   Facebook:   / aparchives   ​​ Instagram:   / apnews   You can license this story through AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/you...