‘After 20 years of left–liberal rule, Fidesz’s goal was to stimulate the creation of a much more balanced and pluralistic environment in all segments of society and a country less dependent on any form of foreign influence. In the eyes of ordinary Hungarians, none of the experiences described above called into question the benefits of EU and NATO membership or the conviction that Hungary’s place is in the West.’
On Wednesday, Alternative für Deutschland (AfD) finally broke through the firewall that German mainstream parties had imposed on them since the party’s foundation, securing a majority alongside the CDU on a motion for stricter migration rules. Hungarian prime minister Viktor Orbán welcomed the development in a post on his X account.
‘Besides all the bad news, there are sometimes good ones, too, even from difficult regions like the Middle East. After a long time, a new president has been elected in Lebanon,’ Hungarian foreign minister Péter Szijjártó commented on the election of Michael Aoun.
On Wednesday, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán concluded a historic two-day visit to the United Arab Emirates, during which he held bilateral talks with UAE President Mohamed Bin Zayed. The discussions focused on strengthening bilateral relations in key areas, including investments, trade, energy, and security, as Hungary seeks to establish a strategic partnership with the Gulf nation.
Despite desperate efforts to capture the attention of the new US administration, Donald Trump’s foreign policy team does not appear interested in engaging with the European Union as a bloc. Instead, Secretary of State Marco Rubio has prioritized bilateral discussions with individual member states. This approach offers European nations an opportunity to reclaim their sovereign foreign policy, which has increasingly been overshadowed and taken over by Brussels in recent years, often against their will.
Donald Trump took an unexpected step on Monday by ordering dozens of senior officials at the US Agency for International Development (USAID) to go on administrative leave. USAID has a long history of foreign interference under the pretext of providing aid, including significant grants to Hungarian anti-government media and government-critical NGOs.
By voicing his support for AfD on his platform and challenging the taboo of German national guilt, Elon Musk has emerged as a key figure in the right-wing party’s gradual dismantling the ‘firewall’ that mainstream parties have upheld against it for years.
In an interview on Tara Palmeri’s podcast, journalist Marc Caputo revealed that he was told while working for POLITICO not to write about the Hunter Biden laptop story, which could have damaged Democrat nominee Joe Biden before the 2020 election.
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán has instructed his cabinet to prepare an agreement to reinstate the double taxation treaty between Hungary and the United States, unilaterally terminated by the Biden administration. The scrapping of the agreement by the previous US government caused significant economic and political harm to Hungary.
In his inaugural address, Donald Trump did not skimp on sweeping promises and tough talk. The old-new President of the United States promised a new golden age for the country, decisive action to protect its economic interests, as well as immediate measures to curb illegal migration.
Ex-S&D politician and former MEP Maria Arena has recently been charged with participating in a criminal organization. The Belgian politician is joining the line of former MEPs who are facing formal accusations of making political favours for countries such as Qatar and Morocco in exchange for monetary reward.
From deep Appalachia to the White House, JD Vance has travelled a long road to becoming the 50th Vice President of the US. Along the way, his political views have evolved, shifting from opposing Trump to becoming a staunch MAGA Republican. Vance also loves Hungary, and he is not shy about it—he is one of the most vocal supporters of Viktor Orbán and his policies overseas.
‘Unlike France and Germany, Hungary has not been affected by cultural Marxism or wokeist ideology, so our peoples—Latin American and Hungarian—fundamentally share the same values, based on love for God, country and family.’
The latest episode of the Danube Institute’s podcast examines the emerging new world order under a Donald Trump presidency. Hosted by Rod Dreher, the episode features expert predictions on significant shifts in US foreign policy and their broader global implications.
An Afghan migrant, killed two people, including a toddler, in a knife attack in the German city of Aschaffenburg. The tragic incident marks the fourth immigration-related attack in just over six months, further heightening tensions ahead of the early elections in February.
The European Commission has decided to suspend Vienna’s Modul University from participating in the Erasmus+ and Horizon programmes, mirroring a similar decision made against 21 Hungarian universities in late 2022. Balázs Orbán, the political director of the Hungarian prime minister, condemned the decision as outrageous and pledged to defend academic freedom.
Donald Trump’s second presidency may bring a trade war between the EU and the United States. According to German weekly Die Zeit, Viktor Orbán could play a pivotal role in the trade negotiations should that happen.
While almost two-thirds of the Danish population were in favour of accession, 70.8 per cent of the citizens of Greenland rejected the idea of belonging to the European Community. The Inuit were reluctant to participate in European integration from the very beginning.
Ernő Schaller-Baross has stated in an interview with Hír TV that Donald Trump’s victory in the United States is proof that conservative, patriotic voices are getting stronger around the world, including Europe.
On 8 January European defence industry stock prices rose following Donald Trump’s press conference at Mar-a-Lago, where he declared the ownership and control of Greenland to be ‘an absolute necessity’. This came as a shock for many but in reality, America has been eyeing Greenland for more than a century.
Donald Trump was sworn in as the 47th President of the United States on Monday. Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, a close ally of the US President, extended his congratulations, stressing that from now on the sun will shine differently over Brussels as well.
‘Our task now is to safeguard the TurkStream pipeline to ensure Hungary’s energy security,’ Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán stressed after meeting Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić. Orbán warned that Europe is heading toward another energy crisis, calling the skyrocketing fuel prices ‘outrageous.’
Over the past three years Milanović earned himself the reputation of being ‘the Croatian Donald Trump’. He became internationally well-known for his opposition to and critique of the West’s military support to Kyiv. The re-elected president condemned Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, while he was also a vocal critic of Europe’s attitude towards the conflict.
Hamas clearly used the hostage release as a shameless PR opportunity. The terrorist organization gathered a massive crowd in Gaza City’s central square, where uniformed Hamas militants staged a victory parade before handing over the three young women to the International Red Cross.
As the Israel–Hamas ceasefire deal enters force, Hungarian Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade Péter Szijjártó announced that Omri Miran, a Hungarian Israeli hostage held in Gaza, will be released during the second phase of the agreement.
‘By maintaining a flexible and multi-vector foreign policy, Hungary can remain a keystone state, mediating between various global powers while safeguarding its economic and strategic interests against the uncertainties of a shifting global order.’
Poland aims to prepare Council conclusions on a European energy security strategy in the next six months, with the main objective of its programme being to fully divest from fossil fuels from Russia.
‘When Brussels’ antagonism was previously limited to Hungary and Poland, it was easier to frame Budapest and Warsaw as isolated cases. However, this narrative is rapidly collapsing. It won’t be long before Brussels finds itself in opposition to the majority of member states and the will of their electorates.’
‘For Europe, openness has always been a competitive advantage, underpinning its prosperity and global influence,’ State Secretary for International Communication Zoltán Kovács highlighted in a recent interview with Eurasia magazine.
In the new, post-Assad chapter of Syria’s history Hungary will likely continue to emphasize humanitarian aid, regional stability, and the prevention of migration crises in its Damascus policy. The Hungary Helps Program, coupled with EU-led initiatives, makes Hungary a proactive participant in addressing the Syrian crisis and fostering the stability of the Middle East.