US-Hungary bilateral cooperation agreements

Hungarian Foreign Minister Anita Orbán and U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio signed two bilateral cooperation agreements in Washington. The first agreement, part of the Trump Peace Pipelines Framework, focuses on developing regional oil and gas infrastructure in Central and Southeastern Europe to increase U.S. liquefied natural gas capacity and enhance energy security. Orbán emphasized Hungary’s goal of becoming a regional energy distribution and transit hub by leveraging existing storage capacities and connections with six neighboring countries.

The second agreement aims to strengthen law enforcement cooperation and intelligence sharing to combat crimes by radical organizations, with Orbán specifically citing the need to address extremist and radical left-wing groups.

Orbán noted that the high-level nature of the visit, which included meetings with the Secretary of Homeland Security, the Department of Energy, and the Deputy Treasury Secretary, suggests that Washington views the Tisza government as a strategic partner. The discussions also involved potential investments in Hungarian energy and transport projects, as well as efforts to foster political trust and encourage American investment. Regarding regional stability, Orbán stated that Hungary supports common EU decisions where interests align and seeks an early conclusion to the Russia-Ukraine war, while also discussing relations with Russia and stability in the Western Balkans.