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

The Guardian - World NewsCenter-LeftEN 3 min read 100% complete by Andrew Roth WashingtonFebruary 17, 2026 at 08:49 PM

AI Summary

medium article 3 min

Marco Rubio's recent trip to Europe, specifically his visit to Hungary, has sparked concerns within the EU about potential US interference and promotion of disunity. During his visit, Rubio praised Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, stating that US-Hungarian relations were in a "golden age" and offered potential financial support from President Trump if needed. This occurred shortly before a crucial parliamentary election in Hungary, posing the greatest threat to Orbán's 16-year control. Rubio's actions are viewed by some analysts as an attempt to influence the election's outcome and reinforce fears that the US is deliberately sowing discord among its European allies amidst existing tensions over issues like Ukraine, trade, and defense spending. The visit took place after Rubio attended the Munich Security Conference and visited Slovakia, another EU state with close ties to Russia.

Key Entities & Roles

Key Player Opposition Context

Argentina 30% Javier Milei 30% Slovakia 40% Munich Security Conference 40% Russia ×250% Ukraine ×250% Donald Trump ×360% European Union ×270% United States ×370% Hungary ×680% Marco Rubio ×690% Viktor Orbán ×690%

Keywords

viktor orbán 90% us foreign policy 90% hungary 80% marco rubio 80% transatlantic relations 80% eu disunity 70% parliamentary election 60% financial support 60% donald trump 50% russian energy 40%