Exclusive-Vance Plans Hungary Visit in Show of Support for Orban Ahead of Tight Election, Sources Say

JD Vance Set to Visit Hungary to Support Orban Ahead of Election Battle

US Political Support and Hungary's Upcoming Election

JD Vance's Planned Visit to Hungary

WASHINGTON, March 18 (Reuters) - U.S. Vice President JD Vance is planning to visit Hungary in the coming days in a show of support for the country's long-time nationalist prime minister Viktor Orban, who is facing a difficult election next month, two sources familiar with the planning said on Wednesday.

Recent US Diplomatic Engagements with Hungary

Marco Rubio's February Visit

The trip would come after U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio traveled to Budapest in February to publicly back Orban ahead of his toughest re‑election fight since taking power in 2010. Opinion polls show him trailing in the final month before the April 12 vote.

Uncertainty Around Vance's Trip

The exact timing of Vance's visit was not immediately clear and his plans could change, sources cautioned, as top officials may opt to remain in Washington while the U.S.-Israeli air war on Iran rages on. President Donald Trump said he is delaying his trip to China because of the war.

The White House did not immediately have a comment for this story.

Orban's Position in Europe and US Conservative Support

Orban's Relationship with the EU and Russia

Orban, one of Trump's closest allies in Europe, has long been at loggerheads with the EU over a range of issues, including Ukraine. Defying Brussels, he has maintained cordial ties with Moscow, refuses to send weapons to Ukraine, and says Kyiv can never join the EU.

Trump's Endorsement and Conservative Admiration

Trump endorsed Orban last month, calling him "a truly strong and powerful Leader" in a social media post and many on the American hard-right consider him a model for Trump's tough immigration policies and support for Christian conservatism.

Trump has thrown his weight behind conservative leaders worldwide, most recently by supporting Argentina's Javier Milei and Japan's Sanae Takaichi.

JD Vance's Role and US-Hungary Relations

Vance's Influence in Foreign Policy

Vance has emerged as a powerful vice president who is often instrumental and deeply involved in foreign policy affairs. He is also the most likely frontrunner to be Trump's successor in 2028.

Rubio's Statements on US-Hungary Ties

Rubio during his trip to Hungary said Orban's leadership was crucial to U.S. interests but suggested that continued close ties were contingent on Orban being re-elected. He also indicated Washington would be willing to help Budapest financially, if needed.

Hungary's Election Landscape

Fidesz vs. Tisza: The Main Contenders

With campaigning entering its final month, opinion polls show Orban’s Fidesz party trailing the opposition Tisza party, led by former government insider Peter Magyar, though many voters remain undecided.

Economic and Political Stakes

Impact of Inflation and Regional Politics

The election, which comes as Hungary grapples with weak growth and continued fallout from an inflation surge after Russia's February 2022 invasion of Ukraine, will have major implications for Europe amid the rise of conservative and far-right political movements.

(Reporting by Jonathan Landay and Humeyra Pamuk; Editing by Colleen Jenkins and Franklin Paul)