Forget ideological litmus tests—US Secretary of State Marco Rubio says President Trump’s team is all about practical foreign policy. In Budapest with Hungarian leader Viktor Orban, Rubio vowed no pressure on partners to break from China, urging focus on self-interest.
The statement followed a new US-Hungary pact on nuclear energy cooperation. Reporters grilled Rubio on Hungary’s China boom and Russia energy waivers. His response? Crystal clear: ‘We’re not asking any country to cut itself off from anyone.’
America competes hard with Beijing strategically, yet Rubio called severing all ties delusional. Trump’s April China visit exemplifies sustained dialogue. Hungary’s choices reflect its context, Rubio noted sympathetically.
‘Nations grapple with their own geographies, economies, histories, and challenges,’ he elaborated. Extreme reliance on one power for supply chains? ‘Not good for the world—it’s a liability.’
Trump-Orban bromance took center stage, underpinning deals and trust. Orban beamed, calling ties ‘golden’ and thanking Trump profusely.
Ukraine dominated talks too. Rubio pushed US mediation to halt fighting: ‘Straight goal—end the war. We’re uniquely placed to bring parties together.’ Military tech talks are back on.
Iran’s Geneva round two looms challenging, but Trump’s peaceful priorities hold. Rubio’s messaging paints a US open to complex alliances, prioritizing outcomes over orthodoxy in a multipolar world.