The president briefly met Pence on the sidelines of the Munich Security Conference, his office said on Saturday.

Pahor assessed Slovenia was an interesting country to host the meeting because it is "unequivocally commitment to the EU and NATO" and at the same time maintained "good relations with Russia, which has been proved by my recent visit there".

Pahor also told Slovenian reporters in Munich that he had an impression everyone was now waiting for the first Trump-Putin meeting.

It is his wish that the principles which are also vital for Slovenia's security and its commitment to the EU and NATO do not change.

He stressed that some countries were worried that their interests would be affected if US-Russia relations improved.

He believes this is a justified fear given some of Russia's ambitions in international affairs.

Commenting on Pence's statement about the US's commitment to NATO, he said it had a positive effect. Any other statement would be a surprise, he thought.

However, since the US president's autonomy is great, "all of us are nevertheless wondering if there is anything that we still don't know about his personal views on the transatlantic partnership and particularly the issue of improving relations with Russia".

Like yesterday, Pahor held several bilateral meetings on the sidelines of the conference, meeting Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif, Finnish President Sauli Niinistö and Montenegrin PM Duško Marković.

Pahor and Zarif discussed Pahor's recent visit to Iran, which Pahor said had already brought positive economic results. He also expressed a wish for further improving Slovenia-Iran relations, his office said in a press release.

Niinistö and Pahor exchange views on topical issues, sharing a view that the two countries had similar positions on certain topics within the EU and in the international arena.

Both officials would also like to see Slovenia and Finland intensify economic cooperation, but also cooperation in other areas, notably in science and education.

Pahor is accompanied in Munich by Defence Minister Andreja Katič, who had informal meetings with several of her counterparts.

She met British Secretary of Defence Michael Fallon and Latvian Defence Minister Raimonds Bergmanis, her ministry said in a press release.

Katiče and Fallon agreed to intensify cooperation between both countries' armed forces, particularly in military exercises and training.

Their meeting was the first between Slovenian and UK defence ministers since 2004.

Katič and the Latvian defence minister, meanwhile, discussed Slovenia's decision to send up to 50 troops to NATO's mission in Latvia, for which Bergmanis thanked the Slovenian government.