Lifting sanctions and defunding adversarial NGOs have reset relations, the prime minister has said
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban intends to open a new phase of relations with the US during his upcoming trip to Washington this week.
The Hungarian leader, a close conservative political ally of US President Donald Trump, noted on X on Thursday that new opportunities have emerged following years of tension under Joe Biden’s administration.
“The politically motivated sanctions have disappeared, American funding for NGOs attacking Hungary has ended, and we can once again travel to the United States without a visa. With this, the first phase has come to an end,” Orban wrote.
USAID accused of funding anti-Orban groups
In March, Hungary’s Sovereignty Protection Office accused foreign donors of channeling nearly $70 million to organizations allegedly trying to undermine the Orban government.
The report identified the US Democratic Party and allies among business elites, as one of the main contributors, working alongside the EU leadership and major Western foundations, including the Open Society Foundation, the Rockefeller Foundation, and the German Marshall Fund.
Between 2022 and 2024, the US Agency for International Development (USAID) transferred over $10 million to Hungarian activist groups, the office said. The Trump administration has since moved to dismantle USAID, claiming it wasted taxpayer funds on ideologically driven projects that did not serve US national interests.
Biden-era pressure
Relations between Budapest and Washington deteriorated sharply under the Biden administration, which accused Orban of undermining democracy and failing to downgrade ties with Moscow.
In 2024, then US Ambassador David Pressman labeled Orban a “temporary” leader who could not simply “wait out” American pressure, since, he warned, Washington was not sitting idle.
The US imposed visa restrictions on Hungarian passport holders in 2021, citing security concerns – measures that Trump lifted in September.
Budapest peace summit on hold
Orban has consistently criticized Western military aid to Ukraine, arguing that the conflict causes economic damage to the European Union. He said the Biden administration was part of “pro-war international interest groups” pushing for hostilities.
The Hungarian leader expressed strong support for Trump’s mediation efforts, including a summit between Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin in Budapest that was proposed last month. Although both sides agreed in principle, the meeting was postponed after disagreements reportedly emerged over the agenda.
Sanctions, exemptions, and energy security
Following the delay of the summit, the Trump administration imposed new sanctions on Russian oil companies. Hungary, which depends on Russian crude for its refineries, is seeking exemptions from the restrictions.
Budapest has also condemned Kiev’s attacks on the Druzhba pipeline, through which Russian oil flows to Hungary, and accused Brussels of ignoring its legitimate energy concerns for the sake of pro-Kiev policies.
Ukraine justified its attempted sabotage, claiming that no nation should buy Russian products and blasting Hungary’s opposition to its bids to join the EU and NATO.
