Will Sołowow contribute to Hungary's shift towards the EU and the US? There's an agreement for a century-long relationship.

The BWRX-300 is a 300-megawatt SMR designed by the American company GE Vernova, which has entered into an agreement with Synthos Green Energy (SGE) to sell the reactors throughout the Central and Eastern European region . The Hungarian company is interested in up to ten such reactors.

According to the American think tank Atlantic Council, in addition to increasing energy production in the region, the agreement between the Polish SGE and the Hungarian Hunatom may have broader geopolitical implications.

The EU has to buy a shocking amount of energy from the US

First, it paves the way for the European Union to increase spending on energy imports from the United States, helping Europe fulfill the terms of the trade deal struck with President Donald Trump last week .

Let us recall that, according to the agreements, the 27 member states will have to buy US energy carriers worth USD 750 billion over the next three years, i.e. until the end of Trump's term.

This condition is currently almost impossible to meet, as it would require a threefold increase in purchases of natural gas, as well as crude oil, aviation fuel, diesel fuel and fuel for nuclear power plants.

Will SGE pull Hungary out of the circle of Russian influence?

According to the Atlantic Council, the SGE-Hunatom agreement could also pave the way for closer relations between Hungary and the United States, which in turn could strengthen transatlantic unity in the fight against Vladimir Putin's Russia.

Until now, Hungary has shown little interest in American nuclear energy technologies. Although it is a member state, it has also grown closer to Russia in recent years.

The civil nuclear cooperation agreement may signal a shift in policy, suggesting Hungary is turning away from Russia and toward the EU and the United States. Nuclear energy agreements establish a century-long relationship between the countries involved , with a ten-year project implementation period, eighty years for reactor operation, and another ten years for decommissioning.

Hungary's announcement on the SMR coincided with reports of a U.S.-EU trade deal. Its terms also include "key U.S. investments in energy technologies, particularly in the nuclear sector, including conventional reactors and small modular reactors."

While some experts argue that the EU will struggle to buy $750 billion worth of oil and gas from the United States, Hungary's intention to buy up to ten GE reactors could represent a significant step towards fulfilling the EU's trade commitment .

Hungary maintains civilian nuclear partnership with Russia

It is important to note that Hungary continues to maintain a civil nuclear partnership with Russia. It operates four VVER-440 reactors at its Paks Nuclear Power Plant, based on Russian technology, which currently generate almost half of the country's electricity. Construction of VVER-1200 reactors, two of which will be built at the Paks II nuclear power plant, has recently begun.

The U.S. government has signaled its openness to strengthening cooperation with Hungary in areas beyond nuclear energy, including defense, trade, space, and other energy sources. Activities in these areas are likely to be a continuation of the nuclear agreement and could encourage Hungary to strengthen its relationship with the United States and perhaps even shift away from Russian influence.

Ultimately, the question remains whether this letter of intent indicates Hungary's desire to strengthen its relationship with the United States—and perhaps even to shift away from Russian influence and energy dependence. Regardless, this statement is a step toward strengthening Budapest's relationship with Poland and, more broadly, the EU.