Rubio will visit central Europe after attending the Munich Security Conference from Feb 13 to 15, the statement said.

According to the statement, Rubio's talks in Budapest will aim to "bolster our shared bilateral and regional interests, including our commitment to peace processes to resolve global conflicts and to the US-Hungary energy partnership."

In Bratislava, Rubio will discuss nuclear energy cooperation, regional security, modernisation of the Slovak army, and Slovakia's NATO commitments, the statement said.

Background info: 

It is fascinating to see the evolution of Marco Rubio’s stance on Hungary.

As he prepares for his visit on February 15–16, his current diplomatic tone as Secretary of State contrasts sharply with his historically vocal criticism of Prime Minister Viktor Orbán’s domestic and foreign policies.

Here is a breakdown of Rubio’s past comments and the shifting dynamics between the two leaders:

1. Criticism of "Democratic Backsliding"

For years, Rubio was one of the more prominent Republican critics of the Orbán government’s internal policies. He frequently raised alarms about the erosion of the rule of law.

The Judiciary and Elections: In 2019, Rubio co-signed a bipartisan letter to then-President Trump expressing concern that under Orbán, the "judiciary is increasingly controlled by the state" and the election process had become "less competitive."

Media Consolidation: Rubio has previously noted that the consolidation of Hungarian media into the hands of government-aligned oligarchs prevents truly "free elections" because the public is only presented with one narrative.

Human Rights: As recently as 2025, Rubio faced pressure from colleagues to condemn Hungarian legislation targeting the LGBTQ+ community, which he had previously described as part of a "downward trajectory with regard to democratic freedoms."

2. Concerns Over Russia and China Ties

Rubio has historically viewed Hungary’s "balancing act" between the West and the East with suspicion.

Authoritarian Pivot: He once stated that Orbán had taken Hungary in a "decidedly authoritarian direction," pushing aside traditional allies in favor of closer relations with Beijing and Moscow.

Energy Sanctions Conflict: In late 2025, a public disagreement broke out when Rubio clarified that a U.S. sanctions waiver for Russian oil and gas was limited to one year to prevent economic trauma. This directly contradicted the Hungarian government’s claim that the exemption was "unlimited," leading to a diplomatic "clarification" process between Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó and Rubio.

3. The Shift to "Transactional Diplomacy"

Despite these past criticisms, Rubio’s current visit reflects a more pragmatic, "America First" approach typical of the current administration.

Shared Peace Goals: Rubio has shifted toward praising Orbán as a partner in "peace processes," particularly regarding the conflict in Ukraine—a stance that aligns with the Trump administration’s desire to end the war quickly.

NATO Reimagining: Rubio has recently argued that NATO needs to be "reimagined," with European allies taking more responsibility. This aligns with Orbán's long-standing rhetoric that Europe should be more independent in its defense and security decisions.

Source: MTI – Hungary’s national news agency since 1881. While MTI articles are usually factual, some may contain political bias, and readers should be aware that such content does not reflect the position of XpatLoop, which is neutral and independent.

Since the goal of XpatLoop is to keep readers well briefed, right across the spectrum of opinions, MTI items are shared to ensure readers are aware of all narratives within the local media.

XpatLoop believes in empowering readers to form their own views through complete and comprehensive coverage. To facilitate this XpatLoop has a balanced range of news partners, as you can see when you surf around XpatLoop.com
 

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