Energy & Nuclear Policy

The United States and Hungary signed a civilian nuclear cooperation agreement in Budapest on Monday, with Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Prime Minister Viktor Orbán formalizing a pact that will see Hungary buy U.S. nuclear fuel for the first time and work with U.S. firm Holtec International on spent‑fuel management. The deal builds on a November 2025 memorandum and is intended to make Hungary a regional hub for small modular reactor (SMR) development, explicitly encouraging Budapest to select U.S. SMR technology in a sector long dominated by Russian VVER reactors and fuel at Hungary’s Paks plant. Rubio publicly credited the agreement to Donald Trump’s close relationship with Orbán and told the Hungarian leader that Trump is 'deeply committed' to his success, while Orbán proclaimed a 'new golden age' in U.S.–Hungary relations as he heads into April 12 elections that will decide whether he extends his two‑decade grip on power. Strategically, the accord advances Trump‑era goals of reducing Russian and Chinese influence over Central European energy systems and expanding export markets for U.S. nuclear technology, even as Washington had previously lifted sanctions to allow Russian‑backed upgrades at Paks. The timing and rhetoric have fueled debate in European and U.S. policy circles over Washington’s embrace of an EU leader frequently criticized for democratic backsliding, but from an energy‑security standpoint it marks a concrete step toward diversifying Hungary’s nuclear supply chain away from Moscow.