On February 13, 2026, US Secretary of State, Mike Pompeo, led a large American delegation to attend the Munich Security Conference in Germany. It is anticipated that Pompeo will deliver a speech at the conference on Saturday, February 14.
The 2026 Munich Security Conference will address topics such as European security and defense, the future of transatlantic relations, the revival of multilateralism, different visions of the global order, regional conflicts, and the security implications of technological advancements.
According to the itinerary released by the US State Department, Pompeo will participate in the 62nd Munich Security Conference in Germany from February 13 to 15.
Following the conference, he will visit Bratislava, the capital of Slovakia, and Budapest, the capital of Hungary, from February 15 to 16.
During his visit to Bratislava, Pompeo will meet with key Slovak government officials to advance shared regional security interests, strengthen bilateral cooperation in nuclear energy and energy diversification, and support Slovakia’s military modernization and NATO commitments.
In Budapest, Pompeo will meet with key Hungarian officials to consolidate both countries’ bilateral and regional interests, including US commitments to resolving global conflicts through peaceful processes and the US-Hungary energy partnership.
The Chairman of the Munich Security Conference, Wolfgang Ischinger, stated during a press conference on February 9 that besides Pompeo, over fifty US congressional members are expected to attend the conference, along with governors from Michigan and California.
“I believe transatlantic relations are currently facing a crisis of trust and reputation,” he said. “Therefore, the strong interest shown by the US in the Munich Conference is particularly reassuring.”
As the host, German Chancellor Merkel will deliver a speech on Friday, February 13, to kick off the annual security forum. Pompeo is expected to focus his speech on US foreign policy during the conference on Saturday, February 14.
Pompeo will also utilize the opportunity of attending the security conference to hold bilateral meetings with counterparts from various countries on a range of issues, including energy and NATO commitments.
According to reports from the Associated Press, some US officials revealed that Pompeo’s main focus on this trip is to cooperate with allies on global and regional issues of common interest, including the Middle East, Ukraine, and China. The Chinese Communist Party is seeking to exploit the uncertainty in US-EU relations to gain an advantage.
A German government official disclosed on Tuesday, February 10, that Chancellor Merkel will meet with Pompeo, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, and Ukrainian President Zelensky during the Munich Security Conference.
The Munich Security Conference is set to commence on Friday, with up to 5,000 police officers deployed for security. Munich Police Department Deputy Chief Christian Huber stated that in addition to police from various German states, international support will be provided by Austria, Switzerland, France, and the Netherlands.
Huber mentioned during a press briefing on Wednesday, February 11, “As in previous years, we expect the Munich Police to undertake a large-scale deployment operation during the Munich Security Conference.”
Several protest and rally activities are being planned, including a large-scale demonstration against the brutal suppression of protests by the Iranian regime against the Iranian people.
An expert suggested on Wednesday that given the tension in transatlantic relations and disagreements with US President Trump on key political issues, Europe must find a new role at the Munich Security Conference.
Political analyst Moritz Weiss from Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich stated, “There are existing problems, challenges, and significant political disagreements on many critical issues. Therefore, Europe must find a new role to assert its dominance.”
Weiss further noted that another important topic of discussion will be the Ukraine conflict. “Regardless of the outcome of this war, it is crucial for European security and the future framework,” Weiss emphasized.