US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has scheduled a meeting with Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán following his attendance at the Munich Security Conference and a visit to Slovakia. This short visit to Hungary, as reported by the US government, aims to address the key issue of energy partnerships between the United States and Hungary. Given that Hungary sources nearly all of its natural gas from Russia, the discussions are critical for shaping future energy strategies.

The US is encouraging Hungary to significantly increase its imports of liquefied natural gas (LNG) from the United States as part of a wider initiative to reduce Europe's dependence on Russian energy supplies. The meeting underscores the ongoing diplomatic efforts by the US to reinforce its presence in Central and Eastern Europe, particularly in energy security, which has emerged as a pressing concern in the region due to geopolitical tensions stemming from Russia's actions.

As Budapest navigates its energy landscape amidst external pressures, Rubio's meeting with Orbán is also indicative of the broader US strategy to strengthen alliances with countries that may have previously relied on Russian energy. The outcome of these discussions could impact Hungary’s future energy policies and its alignment with US energy and foreign policy objectives, as well as influencing the EU's collective approach to energy dependency and security.