Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban is hoping that his upcoming meeting with President Donald Trump will bring his country not only political but also economic relief. According to Bloomberg, citing Cabinet Minister Gergely Gulyas, the talks, scheduled to take place at the White House on November 7, will include the signing of several agreements in the fields of energy, defense, economy, and finance.
Gulyas said that Orban’s main goal is to secure guarantees that Hungary will be shielded from the effects of U.S. sanctions targeting Russian oil.
Orban and Trump: A Union of Ideologues and Pragmatists
Viktor Orban remains one of Donald Trump’s most loyal supporters and ideological allies in Europe. However, as Bloomberg notes, the Hungarian prime minister’s expectations following Trump’s return to power have so far gone unfulfilled.
Orban had hoped that under Trump, Washington would open the door to major U.S. investments in Hungary. Instead, the country’s economy has suffered from Trump’s protectionist policies and tariffs on European Union goods, which have hit Hungary’s export-driven growth.
After fifteen years in power, Orban finds himself in a difficult position. New data published on Thursday showed that Hungary’s economy stagnated in the third quarter, while his ruling Fidesz party is losing ground ahead of parliamentary elections scheduled for April.
U.S. Sanctions and Hungary’s Dependence on Russian Oil
The main threat to Budapest now comes from the latest U.S. sanctions targeting Russia’s biggest oil producers, introduced last week. As Bloomberg explains, these measures are intended to pressure President Vladimir Putin to return to the negotiating table over the war in Ukraine.
For Hungary, however, such steps pose serious energy-security risks. The country relies heavily on imports of Russian oil and gas, and unlike many of its EU neighbors, Budapest has increased its purchases of Russian energy since Moscow’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
Even before the sanctions were announced, Orban had sought to convince President Trump that Hungary’s landlocked geography leaves it no choice but to depend on Russian oil supplies — despite the existence of an alternative pipeline route via Croatia to the Adriatic Sea.
The United States, however, rejected this argument. U.S. Ambassador to NATO Matthew Whitaker said that Hungary’s government must “move from words to action” and begin reducing its reliance on Russian energy.
The White House Meeting and Hope for an Exemption
Despite the mounting pressure, Orban has no intention of backing down. As Minister Gulyas stated, “Our goal is for President Trump to maintain his position and to grant Hungary an exemption from U.S. sanctions, allowing us to continue purchasing Russian crude oil and natural gas.”
According to Bloomberg, Budapest sees the upcoming talks as an opportunity not only to negotiate economic benefits but also to strengthen strategic cooperation in the fields of energy and defense.
For Orban, the meeting with Trump represents a chance to reinforce his domestic standing at a time when the economy is faltering and his approval ratings are falling. For Trump, it offers an opportunity to demonstrate that his influence in Europe remains strong — particularly among leaders who oppose Brussels’ liberal agenda.
Context: Orban Between Moscow, Washington, and Brussels
Orban’s political strategy has long been based on balancing between centers of power. He seeks to maintain ties with Moscow, citing energy dependence as a pragmatic necessity, while simultaneously cultivating close relations with Trump to strengthen Hungary’s international position.
Bloomberg notes that Budapest remains one of the few EU capitals that openly opposes anti-Russian sanctions and continues to maintain dialogue with the Kremlin.
If Trump agrees to support Orban and grant Hungary an exemption from the sanctions regime, it would mark a significant development — not only for Budapest but for Europe as a whole, where the number of politicians willing to reconsider the anti-Russian stance is steadily growing.
This article was prepared based on materials published by Bloomberg. The author does not claim authorship of the original text but presents their interpretation of the content for informational purposes.
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