Hungary and the United States have solidified their partnership through new agreements focused on enhancing energy cooperation and law enforcement collaboration. During a meeting in Washington on Thursday, Hungarian Foreign Minister Anita Orbán and US Secretary of State Marco Rubio signed the agreements, which aim to expand natural gas infrastructure and bolster intelligence sharing between the two nations.
The energy agreement centers on the US-backed Trump Peace Pipelines Framework, designed to increase American liquefied natural gas (LNG) exports and improve energy infrastructure in Central and Eastern Europe and the Western Balkans. This initiative aligns with Hungary’s ongoing energy policies, which have roots in the administration of former Prime Minister Viktor Orbán. Discussions addressed potential oil purchases from the US and the extension of Hungary’s Paks I nuclear power plant’s operating life, with further investment in small modular reactors considered.
In addition to energy, the second agreement focuses on law enforcement collaboration, particularly in combating extremist organizations. This comes in the wake of politically sensitive incidents in Hungary linked to far-left extremist groups, including Antifa Ost, and follows the European Parliament’s recent decision regarding the parliamentary immunity of Italian MEP Ilaria Salis, involved in related legal proceedings.
The Washington meeting, postponed from its initial scheduling due to Rubio’s campaign commitments with President Trump, underscores both countries’ commitment to strengthening these key areas of cooperation. The agreements signal continuity in Hungary’s approach to energy and security policies, reflecting established ties and expanding on previously initiated collaborations.