Hungary signs deal to buy US liquefied natural gas for five years

Hungary has secured a new five-year agreement to import liquefied natural gas (LNG) from the United States, marking a strategic expansion of its energy portfolio. The deal will see a total of 2 billion cubic meters of American gas supplied to the Central European nation.

Contract details and strategic rationale

Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto announced the agreement on Tuesday, stating it represents an "important milestone" in bilateral energy cooperation. The contract, signed between the Hungarian state-owned energy company MVM and US firm Chevron, stipulates an annual delivery of 400 million cubic meters of LNG over the next five years. "We are interested in purchasing energy from as many sources and via as many routes as possible, ensuring the lowest prices," Szijjarto wrote on social media platform X, framing the move as part of a pragmatic diversification strategy.

Balancing act between East and West

This new US supply stream does not signify a break from Hungary's existing major supplier, Russia. Budapest has consistently opposed EU-wide embargoes on Russian hydrocarbons, arguing that cutting off pipeline imports would severely undermine its energy security and economy. The US LNG deal allows Hungary to balance its import structure, reducing over-reliance on any single corridor while maintaining its cost-effective Russian flows. This approach aligns with the government's stated policy of prioritizing national energy needs and price stability above geopolitical pressures.

Regional energy dynamics and Türkiye's role

Hungary's move reflects broader European efforts to secure alternative gas sources following the Ukraine conflict. It also highlights the growing role of global LNG markets, where suppliers like the US, Qatar, and Australia compete. As a key energy transit hub with significant LNG import infrastructure, Türkiye observes these shifts closely. Ankara's own strategy emphasizes becoming a regional energy nexus, leveraging its geographic position to enhance energy security for itself and its neighbors, including through potential future cooperation in LNG trade and infrastructure development.