US Secretary of State Marco Rubio cements the Trump administration’s alliance with Hungary’s Viktor Orbán, signalling a definitive shift in US foreign policy values.

In a move that solidifies the geopolitical realignment of the Trump 2.0 era, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio touched down in Budapest to offer a ringing endorsement of Prime Minister Viktor Orbán. Standing alongside the Hungarian leader, Rubio declared a "golden age" of relations, explicitly stating that President Donald Trump is "deeply committed" to Orbán’s success as he faces a tough re-election battle.

The visit is a stark departure from traditional US diplomacy, which often kept the illiberal Hungarian leader at arm's length. Instead, Rubio’s presence validates Orbán’s brand of nationalistic conservatism, sending a clear message to the European Union that Washington now favors bilateral ideological alliances over the Brussels consensus.

Implications for the Global South

For nations like Kenya, this visit is instructive. It signals that the current US administration prioritizes transactional loyalty and ideological alignment over abstract democratic standards. Orbán’s Hungary—criticized for its stance on media and the judiciary—is now a preferred partner. This could embolden other leaders globally who chafe against Western lectures on governance, suggesting a new playbook for relations with Washington.

Rubio praised the personal chemistry between Trump and Orbán as the cornerstone of this new alliance. "Your success is our success," Rubio told Orbán, a statement that will ring loudly in capitals from Berlin to Beijing.

• The Visit: Marco Rubio to Budapest.
• The Message: Trump is "deeply committed" to Orbán.
• The Shift: US foreign policy now openly backs nationalist allies in Europe.

As the West fractures into competing camps, the US has firmly planted its flag in Budapest. The question now is how this "Golden Age" will reshape the transatlantic security architecture.

"If he were not the president now, we would not stand a chance," Orbán remarked, underlining the existential importance of his American friend.