Orbán : A new golden age has dawned - The Budapest Times

budapesttimes.hu · Feb 17, 2026 · Collected from GDELT

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At a joint press conference in Budapest, PM Orbán welcomed U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio after what he called a “cordial, friendly and serious” meeting, saying bilateral ties have reached a historic high. With President Donald Trump in office, the prime minister described the moment as “a new golden age” in U.S.-Hungarian relations. The visit, PM Orbán said, was agreed upon during his November meeting with President Donald Trump. The event also featured an agreement signed by Secretary Rubio and Hungary’s Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó to promote cooperation in Hungary’s civilian nuclear energy program. PM Orbán pointed to several developments demonstrating the current level of cooperation. Since last January, decisions have been made on 17 U.S. investments in Hungary, a new record considering the last decade. He also highlighted that Hungarians can again travel to the United States visa-free. Hungary has additionally been invited to the newly established Board of Peace, which is set to meet in Washington later this week, where PM Orbán will represent Hungary. Energy cooperation was central to both the talks and the agreements announced. PM Orbán said the countries have concluded key arrangements covering oil, gas and nuclear energy, and welcomed the U.S. exemption for Hungary, allowing it to continue using Russian oil and gas. Together, he argued, these steps help ensure Hungary’s supply security and allow households and industry to access comparatively cheap energy. He also added that they discussed under what conditions Hungarian energy conglomerate MOL could acquire Serbia’s NIS refinery. On Ukraine, PM Orbán said Hungary continues to support U.S. efforts to achieve peace. He credited President Trump with doing the most in international politics to end the war, reiterating that the conflict would not have started if Trump had been president earlier. PM Orbán said Hungary remains ready to host a peace summit in Budapest if one is held and confirmed that President Trump has a standing invitation to visit Hungary. Secretary Rubio echoed the “golden age” sentiment, saying the relationship is strong not only in rhetoric but in actions and signed agreements. He said the nuclear cooperation agreement builds on the November White House meeting and expressed hope it would be the first of many. Marco Rubio also argued that Hungary is not isolated, pointing to increased U.S. investment and praising Hungary’s stability for businesses. He emphasized that the personal relationship between President Trump and PM Orbán strengthens cooperation, describing Hungary’s role in Central Europe as important for U.S. interests. In the Q&A, PM Orbán addressed questions about President Volodymyr Zelensky criticizing Hungary’s stance on Ukraine’s EU accession. The prime minister said Ukraine and its president have “entered the Hungarian election campaign,” and framed the choice as two options: Hungary’s current position, reinforced by Voks 2025, where voters rejected Ukraine’s EU membership, and an alternative government that would accept accession and contribute financially to Ukraine. PM Orbán said the campaign now has an international dimension and that Hungary must “win against them too.” Secretary Rubio said the United States’ priority is to end the war, arguing that Washington is uniquely positioned to bring both sides to the table and that U.S. diplomacy aims to help reach an agreement without forcing outcomes. Asked about Hungary’s China ties, State Secretary Rubio said the U.S. view is that nations act in their own interests and there is no need to demand partners isolate themselves. PM Orbán added that NATO membership defines Hungary’s limits in security cooperation — restricted to NATO allies — while trade cooperation can be broader. The prime minister also said that since President Trump took office, he has not encountered a single conflict point in bilateral cooperation.