Marco Rubio’s warm words to Viktor Orbán reinforce EU fears that US seeks disunity in Europe

<p>Secretary of state spoke of ‘golden age’ of US-Hungary relations at time of tense transatlantic relations with traditional allies</p><p>Even before he in effect endorsed Hungary’s Viktor Orbán before a crucial parliamentary election, Marco Rubio’s itinerary for Europe promised to be provocative. After meeting US allies at the Munich Security Conference during a particularly tense moment in transatlantic relations, the US secretary of state departed for Slovakia and Hungary – the two EU states most dependent on Russian energy and sceptical of the bloc’s support for Ukraine.</p><p>In what bordered on an explicit political endorsement, Rubio told Orbán that relations between Hungary and the US had entered a “golden age” – and would stay like that for as long as Orban remains in power.</p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/feb/17/marco-rubio-viktor-orban-eu-disunity-analysis">Continue reading...</a>