US Secretary of State Marco Rubio met Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán in Budapest on Monday as part of a regional tour aimed at reinforcing ties with key European allies following the Munich Security Conference.
The visit comes less than two months before Hungary’s parliamentary elections on 12 April, with Orbán trailing in opinion polls. The Hungarian leader maintains close personal ties with US President Donald Trump, who earlier this month publicly endorsed Orbán’s re-election bid. Washington and Budapest are expected to sign a civilian nuclear cooperation agreement later in the day, according to reports cited by international media.
Rubio’s meetings in Hungary follow stops in Slovakia and Germany, and form part of a broader diplomatic effort to reaffirm transatlantic relations amid growing tensions over European defence spending, migration policy, and energy cooperation. While seeking to reassure European partners of Washington’s long-term commitment to the continent, Rubio has also pressed for greater alignment with United States positions on security and economic policy.
Source: commonspace.eu with The Guardian
