Operational Updates

Secretary Rubio meets German Chancellor Merz in Munich to discuss Ukraine, supply chains and the U.S.-German partnership

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Key takeaways

  • Secretary of State Marco Rubio met with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz in Munich on February 13, 2026.
  • They discussed securing supply chains, efforts to end the Russia-Ukraine war, and strengthening the U.S.-Europe partnership.
  • Rubio expressed appreciation for Germany’s support for Ukraine, citing over $76 billion in assistance since 2022.
  • They discussed continued coordination on reconstruction efforts for Ukraine.
  • Both leaders emphasized the importance of deepening the U.S.-German partnership across these priorities.

Follow Up Questions

What specifically is included in the figure “over $76 billion in assistance” to Ukraine since 2022 (e.g., military aid, economic support, humanitarian assistance)?Expand

Unclear from the readout which line-items are included; generally such totals bundle military (weapons, ammunition, air‑defence), financial/state transfers, humanitarian aid, infrastructure/energy repairs and in‑kind equipment. Official German reporting (Bundesregierung) and independent trackers (Kiel Institute) separately categorize military, financial and humanitarian aid — but the State Department readout does not provide a breakdown for the “over $76 billion” figure.

What reconstruction efforts did Rubio and Merz discuss, and which governments or organizations would lead or coordinate that work?Expand

The readout only says they discussed “continued coordination on reconstruction efforts” without naming specific projects or lead agencies. In practice, reconstruction coordination has been discussed at G7/G7‑Ukraine platforms, the international Ukraine Recovery Conference and through German ministries (Federal Foreign Office, Finance Ministry/KfW) and EU instruments—these bodies typically lead or coordinate reconstruction planning and financing.

What concrete steps or policies were proposed to "secure supply chains" in this discussion?Expand

The readout gives no concrete supply‑chain measures. Common near‑term policy tools discussed by U.S. and EU partners have included diversifying suppliers, on‑shoring/near‑shoring critical production (e.g., semiconductors, defense inputs), export‑control coordination, stockpiling strategic inputs and strengthening transport/logistics links; however, none of these specific steps are listed in the State Department statement.

What authority or responsibilities does the Principal Deputy Spokesperson have, and who is Tommy Pigott?Expand

The Principal Deputy Spokesperson is a senior State Department press office official who speaks for the Department when the Spokesperson is unavailable and issues official readouts and statements; Tommy Pigott is the Principal Deputy Spokesperson credited with the readout for this meeting.

What specific actions or policy changes would "deepening the U.S.-German partnership" likely involve in the near term?Expand

Near‑term measures to “deepen the U.S.‑German partnership” typically include higher‑level diplomatic consultations, coordinated sanctions/enforcement, joint procurement/stockpiles for critical supplies, increased defence-industrial cooperation and expanded intelligence/technology collaboration; the readout did not list immediate, binding actions.

Who is German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and what is his role in Germany’s government?Expand

Friedrich Merz is the Federal Chancellor (head of government) of Germany since 2023; as Chancellor he leads the federal cabinet, sets government policy direction and represents Germany internationally.

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