By Amr Gohar
Washington DC, – The United States is stepping up its public-diplomacy offensive in Europe as Sarah Rogers, the Under Secretary of State for Public Diplomacy, embarks on a high-profile tour spanning four key European capitals from February 5–15, 2026.
Rogers will travel to Dublin, Budapest, Warsaw, and Munich, holding meetings with senior government officials and private-sector leaders at a time when free speech, digital governance, and information security are moving to the center of transatlantic debate.
According to the State Department, the trip is aimed at advancing freedom of expression and digital freedom, reinforcing American economic interests, and projecting U.S. leadership through Freedom 250 celebrations highlighting American innovation, values, and democratic resilience.
A centerpiece of the visit will be Rogers’ participation in the Munich Security Conference, where she will join the U.S. delegation at one of the world’s most influential gatherings on global security, technology, and geopolitics. Her presence underscores Washington’s intent to link national security, democratic norms, and the digital economy as a unified strategic front.
The tour comes as Europe grapples with rising pressure from authoritarian models of digital control, growing concerns over online censorship, and intensifying competition over technology standards and economic influence. U.S. officials see public diplomacy—not just military or economic power—as a decisive tool in shaping the next phase of the transatlantic relationship.
By combining high-level diplomacy, private-sector engagement, and public messaging, the State Department is signaling that freedom of speech and digital openness are no longer abstract ideals—but core pillars of American foreign policy in an increasingly contested information age.
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