At Tusványos 2025, leaders of Hungarian communities gathered to discuss ethnic minority rights, diaspora engagement, and regional geopolitics. From Ukraine’s demographic crisis to Serbia’s improving ties with Hungary, the National Policy Roundtable highlighted shared struggles and progress, featuring Deputy Prime Ministers Zsolt Semjén of Hungary and Barna Tánczos of Romania.
A united European army remains an illusion, argued Hungarian and regional experts at Tusványos. Citing historical, political, and structural obstacles, panellists instead urged member states to focus on NATO, develop national defence industries, and prepare for a shifting global security landscape.
Hungary and France are expanding their cooperation across nuclear energy, defence, and agricultural policy, with strong alignment on national sovereignty and opposition to EU budget plans that would reduce support for European farmers.
Prime Minister Viktor Orbán described the Tusnádfürdő event as a welcome political escape and announced he would unveil key elements of Hungary’s long-term strategy, while also expressing sharp opposition to Ukraine’s EU membership and criticizing Brussels.
Hungary’s quest to make history in men’s water polo fell just short, as the national team lost 15–13 to Spain in the World Aquatics final in Singapore. Despite a late-game lead, Zsolt Varga’s squad could not hold off the reigning European champions. A win would have secured Hungary a record fifth world title—cementing its legacy as water polo’s undisputed giant.
Former US Ambassador to Hungary has published an opinion piece in The New York Times, comparing the supposed authoritarian power grab by President Trump to that of Prime Minister Viktor Orbán of Hungary—certainly not the first such piece in a Western mainstream media publication. Bryan Leib has responded.
As the war in Ukraine drags on, experts at Tusványos warned that a definitive peace is unlikely. Panellists debated whether the conflict will freeze like others in the post-Soviet space, and what that means for Europe’s security and Ukraine’s future.
The Ukrainian legislature fast-tracked a new bill that would put the Ukrainian independent anti-corruption agencies under the purview of the Prosecutor General of Ukraine, an appointee by President Zelenskyy. The move sparked concerns over conflicts of interest—people took to the streets to protest in Ukraine, and EU officials have spoken out about it as well.
The US has returned a priceless 17th-century manuscript stolen from Budapest to Hungary. Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó called the gesture a milestone in cultural restitution and praised the renewed Hungarian–American partnership.
At a panel discussion at Tusványos 2025, Hungarian MP Zsolt Németh shared his hopes on how the second Trump administration could bring about ‘Pax Americana 2.0’. This and other important questions were discussed by him, Carlos Roa, Botond Csoma, and Zsolt Szilágyi.
Will Brussels dictate the future of Europe, or can member states reclaim control? A high-profile panel at Tusványos, including Hungarian EU Affairs Minister János Bóka and Rod Dreher, criticized the EU’s centralization drive, arguing that the European Commission now holds more power than many national governments.
At Tusványos 2025, global thinkers from all around the world, from Lebanon, the UK, and Hungary, discussed the decline of liberalism and rise of post-liberal democracy. Speakers like Balázs Orbán, Lord Frost, and Philip Pilkington argued that Western liberalism failed to deliver its promises, while others stressed the need to protect traditional values.
Hungary has refused to comply with the EU’s migrant quota system, citing national security concerns and growing public dissatisfaction across Europe. György Bakondi warned that Brussels’s approach ignores the realities faced by member states.
‘Bilateral relations between the United States and Hungary have swiftly moved forward and considerably improved since Trump returned to office on 20 January 2025…This is consistent with Trump’s emerging second-term foreign policy, which prioritizes realist engagement with other countries based on shared interests.’
Hungary has issued its largest-ever sovereign bond in China, raising 5 billion renminbi on the domestic Chinese market. The deal drew strong investor demand and supports Hungary’s financial reserves amid global uncertainty.
‘Russian responsibility in this failure is becoming increasingly clear,’ said Zsolt Németh, referring to the failed peace talks in Ukraine during the opening of the 34th Bálványos Summer Free University. At the same event, State Secretary for National Policy Lőrinc Nacsa also delivered remarks, emphasizing that the Hungarian government stands for Hungarians both beyond and within its borders.
Chinese electric vehicle manufacturer BYD remains fully committed to its factory project in Szeged, Hungary, and has not altered its production plans, government commissioner István Joó confirmed in response to recent media speculation.
The 34th Bálványos Summer University and Student Camp, better known as Tusványos, begins Tuesday in Băile Tușnad with the slogan ’You Can Count on Us’, offering political debates, cultural events, and high-level speeches through Sunday.
Hungary will build a new oil pipeline with Serbia by 2027 to protect low household utility costs and ensure energy security, Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó announced, sharply criticizing Brussels for undermining access to affordable energy.
‘If the government of Israel continues to cause the expense and bureaucratic harassment for the granting of routine visas that for decades have been routine, I will have no other choice than to instruct our consular section to review options for reciprocal treatment of Israeli citizens seeking visas to the United States.’
A surprise audit of the Hungarian government’s national gold reserves has been carried out by the Committee on Security and Defence in the National Assembly, Committee Chairman Lajos Kósa has revealed. Hungary’s gold reserves in total are 110.2 metric tonnes.
Hungarian police have arrested a 23-year-old Budapest man using the online alias ‘Hano’, suspected of launching coordinated cyberattacks that disrupted major Hungarian news portals and even targeted an international press watchdog.
Edwin Feulner co-founded the influential American conservative think tank Heritage Foundation in 1973, then served as its president for 36 years, between 1973 and 2013, and again for a year, between 2017 and 2018. He passed away on 18 July 2025.
The war in Ukraine is tragic—but it is not Hungary’s war. That was the central message of Balázs Orbán’s interview on CNN, where he criticized the EU for sacrificing stability in pursuit of what he described as an unwinnable proxy. He warned against deeper entanglement in a war that risks becoming Europe’s own—particularly if Ukraine is prematurely admitted into the EU.
The Late Show with Stephen Colbert will be coming to an end in May 2026, the American TV network CBS has announced. Colbert has been criticized by conservatives for being too partisan for a mainstream talk show ever since he took over David Letterman’s spot in 2015.
Over 130 Hungarian artists are protesting the inclusion of Northern Irish hip hop group Kneecap in the Sziget Festival’s line-up, citing the band’s support for the Islamist terror groups Hamas and Hezbollah. Signatories argue this goes beyond free expression and promotes hate, contradicting the festival’s core values.
A new study by the Madrid, Spain office of the Center for Fundamental Rights has revealed that the European Commission has funnelled €939.5 million to progressive activist civil groups in Central and South America over the last decade.
After opposition led by Hungary, the EU has softened its stance on Israel despite growing calls for sanctions and trade restrictions.
Prime Minister Viktor Orbán called Ukraine’s potential EU membership an irreversible burden, comparing it to migration, and criticized Brussels for redirecting EU funds without clear strategy—especially away from farmers and toward Kyiv.
Hungarian tech group 4iG has signed strategic agreements with leading UAE firms e& and Mubadala, and its space-defence arm 4iG SDT has partnered with EDGE Group to jointly develop high-tech defence and aerospace technologies.