April 7 (UPI) -- Vice President JD Vance is in Hungary this week just ahead of Sunday's national election, for which Prime Minister Viktor Orban is trailing in the polls.
Vance is there officially to highlight the close ties between the two countries. The "visit marks an important moment in strengthening Hungarian-American relations, with high-level talks expected on security, economic cooperation and shared strategic interests," CNN reported Hungarian government spokesperson Zoltán Kovács said after the visit was announced.
On Tuesday, his engagements in Budapest include a meeting with Orbán and a speech "on the rich partnership between the United States and Hungary," a press release from Vance's office said.
"The vice president looks forward to visiting Hungary, a close U.S. ally, to build on the progress President Trump and Prime Minister Orbán have made on many key issues, including energy, technology, and defense," CNN reported a spokesman for Vance said.
At the bilateral meeting on Tuesday, Vance told Orbán that it was lovely to be in Budapest. He told the hardline right-wing prime minister that "the president loves you, and so do I."
