American corporate investments totalling around HUF190bn (€490mn) will flow into Hungary this year, the highest level in a decade, reflecting the new golden era of bilateral relations since US President Donald Trump took office, Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto said on November 6 during a stop in Reykjavik on his way to Washington.

The Hungarian delegation, including five ministers, landed in the US on November 7.

Hungary's chief diplomat noted that Prime Minister Viktor Orban and Donald Trump will hold their sixth official meeting. Bilateral economic cooperation has improved in the last ten months, and nine investment projects by American firms have been announced since then.

"Tomorrow we will finalise an agreement on boosting economic cooperation, under which we will be able to announce seven new American corporate investments this year," Szijjártó added.

"The projects will create many hundreds of new jobs in both Budapest and rural locations, in high-value-added industries such as IT, electronics or medical technology," he added.

Prime Minister Viktor Orban, in an interview with Index.hu on board a Wizz Air charter flight to Washington, described his upcoming meeting with Donald Trump as a matter of "life and death" for Hungary, saying discussions will focus on achieving a mutually beneficial economic and energy agreement.

Hungary is not seeking exemptions from sanctions, but rather recognition of its need for secure energy supplies, he said, adding that the sanctioning of companies should not be viewed as a business decision.

Budapest has developed a proposal that does not request company-specific exemptions but calls for acceptance that the country must maintain access to energy through existing channels. "Without any formal agreement, the U.S. should recognise that it has no interest in making decisions that would destroy us. This is not a business issue for us, it's a matter of survival. A friend does not turn a life-or-death issue into a business deal," Orbán was quoted.

The prime minister emphasised that his main goal is to ensure that Hungary's two key energy pipelines, one carrying oil and the other natural gas from the south, remain free from US sanctions, regardless of the source or supplier. "That will essentially be my proposal," he noted.

Regarding nuclear cooperation, Orbán said the first step is to secure a "general licence" exempting the Paks nuclear power plant from sanctions. "It's more difficult than oil or gas, but I think it will succeed," he said, adding that talks also aim to establish technological collaboration between Hungary and the U.S.

Orban mentioned that Hungary intends to use fuel elements of Russian, French, and American origin at the Paks plant, while also exploring spent fuel storage solutions based on more advanced Westinghouse technologies. "The agreement is very close; the intentions already align," the prime minister added.

According to one analyst speaking to Index.hu, from Washington's perspective, Hungary's regional role is increasingly seen through the lens of supporting patriotic political movements in Europe, while the US administration under Trump also seeks to expand its influence along Eurasian trade and energy routes, an objective that coincides with Hungary's long-term strategic interests.

Kyiv is likely to view Orban's visit with concern, fearing that his close engagement with President Trump could weaken Ukraine's diplomatic position in its EU accession process.