Hungarian Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade Péter Szijjártó met US Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Tuesday in Washington, DC, marking their first in-person meeting since Donald Trump’s administration took office on 20 January. According to Szijjártó, the talks focused primarily on former president Joe Biden’s ‘retaliatory measures’ against Hungary, and significant progress was made toward reviving relations, which had deteriorated to a historic low following former US Ambassador to Hungary David Pressman’s tumultuous tenure.
Following the talks, the Hungarian foreign minister stressed that the measures were politically motivated and aimed at harming both Hungary and future bilateral relations. ‘There is absolutely 100 per cent openness in the current administration to reviewing the retaliatory measures taken during the Biden administration and to repealing them,’ he said.
Cleaning Up Biden’s Minefield
Szijjártó highlighted that sanctions affecting Hungary’s energy security—including restrictions on natural gas purchases and nuclear energy—as well as sanctions against Antal Rogán, chief of staff to Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, were under discussion. ‘We have initiated the necessary legal processes in all three cases, and today we have been assured by the Secretary of State of his absolute openness to putting these retaliatory measures behind us as soon as possible,’ Szijjártó stated.
Having departed from Budapest in January, David Pressman left behind a legacy that severely damaged Hungary–US relations. Besides frequently criticizing the Hungarian government and accusing Viktor Orbán of authoritarian governance and high levels of corruption, Joe Biden’s envoy oversaw the implementation of several punitive measures by Washington.
‘Pressman oversaw the implementation of several punitive measures by Washington’
In addition to the aforementioned sanctions, the United States unilaterally terminated the double taxation treaty between the two countries, which had been in place since 1979, causing severe consequences for private individuals, businesses, and the Hungarian state.
As Szijjártó explained, the Biden administration’s decision was linked to Hungary’s opposition to the global minimum tax—a stance also shared by Donald Trump. He further noted that Rubio acknowledged the importance of renegotiating and reinstating the double taxation agreement.
Making US–Hungary Relations Great Again
The two also discussed efforts to end the war in Ukraine, with the US secretary of state emphasizing the urgency of a ceasefire and the need to ensure lasting peace and stability in the region. According to a statement from the Department of State, strategic cooperation in the energy and defence sectors was also on the agenda. Szijjártó stated that both Hungary and the United States view nuclear power as essential to ensuring energy security, making technological cooperation a logical step.
He highlighted that US-based Westinghouse Electric Company, one of the world’s leading nuclear technology firms, could play a crucial role in advancing small modular reactors (SMRs), which can be built in shorter timeframes. The Hungarian foreign minister added that Hungary is interested in working with Westinghouse to develop this technology, which allows for the reliable and environmentally friendly production of large amounts of electricity.
The meeting with Secretary of State Rubio was the latest in Szijjártó’s series of high-profile negotiations aimed at ‘making US–Hungary relations great again’. Earlier, the minister met US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, with discussions focusing on double taxation and the Biden administration’s sanctions. During the meeting, Bessent praised Hungary’s ‘fight against inflation, which was unfortunately necessary due to the challenges caused by sanctions-related inflation,’ and commended the country for attracting significant investments. He also acknowledged the role of American companies in Hungary, noting that ‘more than one hundred thousand Hungarians are employed by American companies.’
Szijjártó also met Trump’s national security adviser Mike Waltz before 20 January.
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