Rubio Visits Budapest, Seals Nuclear Cooperation Deal as Orbán Hails “New Golden Age” in U.S.–Hungary Ties

 At joint press event, Rubio says Trump is “deeply committed” to Orbán’s success; the sides spotlight energy cooperation and sanctions-related waivers

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio visited Budapest in recent days for talks with Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, using a joint press appearance to present a renewed strategic alignment between Washington and Budapest and to unveil a civil nuclear cooperation agreement signed by Rubio and Hungarian Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó.

The visit came just weeks before Hungary’s April parliamentary election and was framed by both sides as a high-level political and economic signal. Rubio told Orbán that President Donald Trump is “deeply committed” to Hungary’s success, explicitly tying that commitment to the personal relationship between Trump and Orbán.

What Rubio and Orbán said they agreed on

The most concrete deliverable presented publicly was the signing of a U.S.–Hungary nuclear cooperation agreement. Hungarian state news agency MTI reported ahead of the press conference that the two governments would sign a “major” agreement on nuclear energy cooperation, with Szijjártó arguing it supports Hungary’s long-term energy policy.

International reporting described the agreement as a framework for cooperation in civilian nuclear energy, including small modular reactors (SMRs) and U.S. nuclear fuel technology.

Telex’s English-language report on the Budapest press conference said the event began with Rubio and Szijjártó signing the nuclear energy agreement, before Rubio and Orbán addressed broader political and economic issues.

Neither side, in the publicly reported accounts, presented a binding procurement decision, financing package, or construction timeline for specific reactors during the press event; the agreement was described as an umbrella framework intended to enable cooperation and future projects.

Trump’s backing: “Your success is our success”

Rubio’s remarks in Budapest went beyond standard diplomatic language. Reuters reported Rubio telling Orbán that Trump is committed to Orbán’s success, describing U.S.–Hungary relations as entering a “golden era” that he linked to Orbán’s relationship with the U.S. president.

Euronews reported Rubio explicitly attributing U.S.–Hungary cooperation to the leaders’ personal ties, saying Trump was “deeply committed” to Orbán’s success, and framing Hungarian prosperity as aligned with U.S. national interests.

AP similarly reported Rubio endorsing Orbán’s bid for another term and describing the Trump–Orbán period as a “golden age” in bilateral relations.

The Financial Times, reporting on the Budapest visit, also highlighted Rubio’s unusually direct praise for Orbán and the “golden era” framing, situating it in the context of U.S. outreach to ideologically aligned Central European leaders.

Sanctions waivers and energy politics raised at the podium

Beyond the nuclear agreement, Rubio and Orbán used the press event to underscore how energy policy—particularly sanctions and exemptions—has become central to the bilateral relationship. Euronews reported Rubio saying Hungary had received a one-year exemption from U.S. sanctions affecting importers of Russian oil, and he linked that outcome to the Trump–Orbán relationship.

Telex’s English report likewise said Rubio argued that Hungary’s sanctions-related exemption “boils down” to the personal relationship between Orbán and Trump, and quoted Rubio’s broader case that strong leadership and predictability make Hungary attractive for investors.

The press conference therefore bundled together two pillars: a forward-looking cooperation framework on nuclear energy and a political message that the current U.S. administration is prepared to use its influence—where it can—on issues Budapest describes as critical to economic stability.

The “new golden age”

Orbán’s side of the messaging was similarly emphatic. AP reported Orbán echoing the “golden age” narrative and portraying the visit as proof that U.S.–Hungary relations have entered a new phase.

Telex reported Orbán describing the meeting with Rubio as “cordial, friendly, and serious,” placing the visit in a storyline of improving bilateral ties.

The Reuters account also framed the Budapest appearance as a high-profile political endorsement of Orbán ahead of the election, with Rubio presenting Orbán’s leadership as beneficial to U.S. interests in the region.

The broader context: election season and Western alliances

Rubio’s visit to Hungary was widely interpreted as having both policy and political significance. AP described the trip as taking place in the run-up to Hungary’s election and noted that Hungary has remained a controversial actor within the EU, especially on issues involving Russia and Ukraine.

The Financial Times similarly framed Rubio’s Budapest appearance as part of a strategic alignment with Orbán—despite longstanding Western criticism of democratic backsliding—reflecting a shift in tone from Washington.

Reuters, for its part, emphasized that Rubio’s language amounted to an unusually direct campaign-season message, explicitly urging Orbán’s continuation in power while tying Hungary’s stability to U.S. strategic interests