Core Insights - Hungary has received a waiver from the U.S. for comprehensive energy sanctions, allowing it to continue relying on Russian energy without incurring significant costs for transitioning away from it [1][2] Group 1: Energy Dependency - Hungary is the EU country most dependent on Russian energy, with 90% of its crude oil and 80% of its natural gas sourced from Russia [2] - The "Turkish Stream" pipeline is set to deliver 7.6 billion cubic meters of natural gas to Hungary in 2024, supporting its status as a "gas price haven" in Europe, with household gas costs being one-third of those in Western Europe [2] - The termination of the Russian gas transit agreement with Ukraine has made the "Turkish Stream" the sole route for Russian gas to Europe [2] Group 2: Economic Implications - Experts warn that if the pipeline were to be sanctioned and shut down, Hungary's industrial output could drop by 30%, and inflation could exceed 20% [2] - Hungary's Prime Minister emphasized that energy security is a matter of physical and mathematical necessity, stating that without Russian gas, energy security is merely a theoretical discussion [2] Group 3: U.S.-Hungary Relations - The waiver indicates a shift in U.S. policy under Trump, contrasting with the previous Biden administration, which imposed sanctions on Hungarian officials and restricted military sales [3] - Hungary's Foreign Minister stated that U.S.-Hungary relations are entering a "new golden era," with the U.S. indicating a willingness to resume military cooperation [3] Group 4: EU Policy Tensions - The waiver has further strained the EU's unified stance on Russian energy sanctions, as Hungary has repeatedly blocked EU efforts to impose a complete ban on Russian oil and gas by 2026 [5] - Slovakia has followed Hungary's lead by importing Russian gas through the "Turkish Stream," and even Ukraine has turned to Hungary for Russian gas during emergencies [5] Group 5: Future Ambitions - Hungary aims to leverage the remaining capacity of the "Turkish Stream" to supply gas to Slovakia and plans to establish a natural gas distribution center in Central Europe, potentially replacing Austria's traditional role [6] - The waiver allows Hungary to stabilize energy costs while profiting from the price differences in gas trading between the EU and Russia [6]