After his visit to Slovakia, the Secretary of State of the United States, Marco Rubio, arrived in Hungary this Monday, February 16, in the middle of a visit to the two conservative and allied governments of Washington in Central Europe. In Budapest, both parties are expected to lay the foundations for a civil nuclear cooperation agreement. The visit coincides with the electoral campaign of Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, considered by the extreme right in the US as a model of the harsh anti-immigration policies and Christian conservatism promoted by Donald Trump.
First modification: 02/16/2026 - 13:46 Last modification: 02/16/2026 - 13:55
Donald Trump's Administration strengthens its relations with the most conservative governments of Central Europe.
This Monday, February 16, after his arrival in Hungary, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio stressed that bilateral ties between Washington and Budapest are entering a “golden era.”
His words come at a time when it is expected that within the framework of his visit to Budapest – where he is scheduled to meet with Prime Minister Viktor Órban – the two governments will establish the bases for a civil nuclear agreement, as well as pacts on energy matters. Orban is one of the biggest critics of the European Union's green policies.
Rubio's visit to the Hungarian capital follows his official trip to Slovakia a day before and after his attendance at the Munich Security Conference in Germany.
Led by Eurosceptic populists who opposed support for Ukraine and openly back Trump, Slovakia and Hungary represent favorable territory for Washington, which seeks to strengthen energy agreements with both Central European countries.
This tour of the two countries with far-right governments and those most sympathetic to the Trump Administration in Europe comes after Rubio's attempt to soften his tone against the Old Continent, a year after Vice President J.D.'s aggressive speech. Vance at the Munich Security Conference, where he attacked the EU's migration policies.
Although Rubio spoke of an "intertwined destiny" for the United States and Europe, describing his country as "a child of Europe," he presented a very conditional offer of a new alliance and also criticized immigration and climate policies on the other side of the Atlantic, without departing from the line and extreme vision of his boss.
Thus, Rubio insisted on “controlling the borders” not out of xenophobia, he said, but to counter what he defined as an “urgent threat to the social fabric of our societies and the survival of our civilization.”
Read alsoRubio travels to Slovakia and Hungary to strengthen ties with leaders sympathetic to Trump
Backing for Orban's electoral campaign?
The visit of the highest representative of American diplomacy to Budapest coincides with the electoral campaign of Prime Minister Viktor Orban, ahead of the elections next April.
“The future of Hungary after the parliamentary elections in April depends on the voters,” Rubio declared this Monday.
Orban – with almost 16 years in power uninterruptedly, he hopes to renew his position – is widely considered the strongest defender of Russian President Vladimir Putin, within the European Union, especially on issues related to Ukraine, a country that Putin ordered to invade almost four years ago.
Orban has maintained a close relationship with the Kremlin, opposing on multiple occasions measures that the bloc of 27 countries has taken or attempted to take against Moscow for launching the largest conflict on European soil since World War II.
His government has remained firmly committed to purchasing Russian energy despite EU efforts to gradually reduce such supplies, and received an exemption from US sanctions on Russian energy after a meeting with Trump at the White House last November.
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The Hungarian premier has been openly supported by Donald Trump and his MAGA (Make America Great Again) movement, due to his affinity with nationalism and more conservative policies, despite the deterioration of Hungarian democratic institutions and its status as one of the poorest countries in the EU. Orban and his Fidesz party face their biggest challenge in the April 12 election since he regained power in 2010.
In a post on his Truth Social platform earlier this month, Trump endorsed Orban for the upcoming election, calling him a "truly strong and powerful leader" as well as "a true friend, fighter and WINNER."
Admiration of Orban by American ultranationalists also stems from their hostility toward the rights of the LGBTQ+ community. In fact, in 2025, its Government banned the popular Budapest Pride celebration and allowed the use of facial recognition technology to identify any participant.
It has also banned adoption and marriage between people of the same sex, and has banned transgender people from changing their sex on official documents.
Read alsoHungary: Parliament approves a bill to leave the International Criminal Court
With Reuters and AP
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