SUMMARY
- The civilian nuclear pact seeks to deepen US/Hungary energy cooperation amid regional security tensions
- The agreement comes weeks before Hungary’s April 12 elections
- Hungary remains heavily dependent on Russian energy despite EU diversification efforts
BUDAPEST, Hungary — US Secretary of State Marco Rubio met Prime Minister Viktor Orbán in Budapest on Monday as Washington and Budapest prepared to sign a civilian nuclear pact aimed at expanding energy cooperation between the two NATO allies ahead of Hungary’s April 12 parliamentary elections.
The visit marked Rubio’s first official trip to Hungary as secretary of state and followed stops in Slovakia and Germany, where he attended the Munich Security Conference.
The civilian nuclear pact is expected to formalize cooperation on nuclear technology, safety standards and potential US investment in Hungary’s energy infrastructure.
The talks come at a politically sensitive moment for Orbán, whose Fidesz party faces its most competitive election since returning to power in 2010.
US President Donald Trump has publicly endorsed Orbán, describing him on Truth Social as a strong leader and ally.
Hungary and Slovakia have emerged as receptive partners for Washington’s outreach in Central Europe, particularly on energy security and infrastructure investment.
Hungary generates nearly half of its electricity from nuclear power at the Paks Nuclear Power Plant, which operates with Russian technology.
A planned expansion, known as Paks II, is being built by Russia’s state nuclear corporation Rosatom under agreements signed in 2014.
Despite the European Union’s push to reduce reliance on Russian energy following Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine, Hungary has maintained long term gas and oil contracts with Russia.
Orbán has argued that energy security and affordability require diversified partnerships. The United States and Hungary signed an earlier nuclear cooperation framework in 2010.
But officials say the new civilian nuclear pact updates regulatory standards and opens the door to broader technical collaboration.
Csaba Tóth, strategic director at the Budapest based think tank Republikon Institute, said the agreement could help Hungary balance its energy portfolio without fully severing ties to Russia.
“Hungary is looking for flexibility,” Tóth said. “Engaging the United States on civilian nuclear cooperation may strengthen its negotiating position within the European Union and with Moscow.”
Heather Conley, senior adviser at the German Marshall Fund, said energy diplomacy often carries geopolitical weight beyond technical cooperation.
“Civil nuclear agreements can serve as confidence building tools within NATO,” Conley said.
“They signal alignment on safety standards, supply chains and long term strategic planning.”
Hungary Energy Mix
| Source | Share of Electricity (Approx.) | Key Supplier |
|---|---|---|
| Nuclear | ~46% | Russian-built reactors |
| Natural Gas | ~25% | Primarily Russian imports |
| Renewables | ~15% | Solar growth increasing |
| Coal & Other | ~14% | Domestic and imported |
Zoltán Kovács, Hungary’s secretary of state for international communication, said the agreement reflects “pragmatic cooperation between sovereign nations pursuing energy security.”
A senior US State Department official traveling with Rubio said the pact “supports safe, transparent and internationally recognized nuclear standards.”
Energy analyst András Deák of Corvinus University said US participation could diversify technology sources but would not immediately replace Russian supply chains.
Officials said technical working groups will follow up in coming months to define project timelines and regulatory coordination under the civilian nuclear pact.
Any major infrastructure changes would require parliamentary approval in Hungary and compliance with EU energy rules.
The civilian nuclear pact underscores Washington’s effort to deepen strategic engagement in Central Europe while highlighting Hungary’s balancing act between Western alliances and long standing Russian energy ties.
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