Rubio praises Orban and Hungary ahead of crunch election - DW.com

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio met with Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban during his visit to Budapest as part of a European tour. This meeting comes at a critical time, with Hungary's parliamentary elections scheduled for April 12. Orban, who has been characterized as an "illiberal" leader, is currently trailing behind the main opposition candidate in opinion polls. Rubio's visit underscores the support from the Trump administration for Orban, who has maintained close ties with Russian President Vladimir Putin. During the meeting, Rubio emphasized President Donald Trump's commitment to Orban's success, highlighting the alignment between their political agendas. Both leaders are known for their Eurosceptic views and criticism of the European Union. Rubio's discussions in Hungary also included energy deals and peace initiatives, reflecting a broader strategy to strengthen ties with nationalist leaders in Central Europe. In addition to Orban, Rubio also met with Slovakia’s Prime Minister Robert Fico, who shares similar views on migration and Ukraine. The meetings are part of a trend where Trump has endorsed conservative nationalist leaders globally, marking a departure from the traditional US diplomatic approach of avoiding involvement in other countries' domestic politics. This alignment with pro-Trump leaders is seen as significant in the context of upcoming elections and ongoing geopolitical tensions.