On Thursday, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio's aircraft encountered a mechanical problem mid-flight to Munich, Germany, as confirmed by a State Department representative. The plane was forced to return to Joint Base Andrews. Secretary Rubio will continue his planned trip to Germany and the Middle East on a different aircraft.
The purpose of Secretary Rubio's visit is to attend the Munich Security Conference and participate in the G7 Foreign Ministers' Meeting, according to the State Department. Following his engagements in Germany, he is scheduled to travel to Israel, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates for meetings with high-ranking officials.
The State Department emphasized that the Secretary's meetings will focus on furthering U.S. interests in bolstering regional collaboration, stability, and peace. Discussions regarding the Israel-Hamas ceasefire and hostage agreement will be a key focus of the trip.
