US Secretary of State Marco Rubio praised Germany for its efforts to strengthen NATO after a meeting with Chancellor Friedrich Merz (CDU) on the sidelines of the Munich Security Conference, German government officials said.

The central focus of the discussion was the situation in Ukraine, the status of negotiations with Russia, and the country’s continued support-especially through military means. Merz and Rubio also exchanged views on the Middle East, concentrating on Iran, and Merz used the opportunity to brief Rubio before his forthcoming trip to China on matters concerning the Far East and trade policy.