Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó emphasized the visit as the beginning of a new chapter in relations between the two countries, a stark contrast to what he called the "hostile" approach of the previous liberal U.S. administration.
"With President Trump’s victory, the golden age of Hungarian-American bilateral relations began," declared FM Szijjártó. Reflecting on the Biden years, he recalled a period defined by punitive measures against Hungary, including the suspension of the visa waiver program, political sanctions, and the halting of the Paks nuclear expansion. These actions, he said, were driven by political revenge rather than strategic reasoning.
In contrast, the Trump administration has quickly dismantled many of these barriers. Political sanctions were lifted, the Paks project was resumed, and Hungary was reinstated in the ESTA visa waiver program. FM Szijjártó also highlighted that, since January, nine significant American investments have been announced in Hungary, totaling nearly HUF 100 billion.
The upcoming meeting in Washington will be the sixth between Prime Minister Orbán and Donald Trump, with their first official bilateral meeting in 2019 during President Trump’s first term and another four meetings when he was no longer president. The foreign minister underscored the symbolic importance of the venue, with the Hungarian delegation staying at Blair House, the official guest residence adjacent to the White House—an unmistakable sign of diplomatic respect and friendship from the U.S. side.
Key items on the agenda include the prospects for peace in Ukraine and a major economic and energy cooperation package. FM Szijjártó reiterated Hungary’s unwavering support for peace, emphasizing that Prime Minister Orbán and President Trump are among the few international leaders consistently advocating for an end to the war. He signaled Hungary’s readiness to host a peace summit in Budapest, should the groundwork between the American and Russian sides prove successful.
On the economic front, the foreign minister revealed that extensive preparatory work had been carried out in recent months, including his own meeting with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio. The proposed cooperation package is based on three pillars: long-term energy security for Hungary, the inflow of modern U.S. investments creating jobs and boosting economic performance, and a stable financial framework to support these goals.
The delegation includes several cabinet ministers—responsible for the economy, innovation, defense, energy, and construction—as well as business leaders, researchers, and journalists.
FM Szijjártó concluded that beyond the Trump-Orbán meeting, ministers and CEOs will also conduct parallel bilateral talks with American counterparts, promising ongoing updates from the U.S. capital in the days ahead.