Human rights NGOs such as Amnesty International and the International Federation for Human Rights joined Hamas in expressing their outrage over Hungary’s decision to withdraw from the International Criminal Court and to refuse the arrest of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. They also called on the European Union to revoke Hungary’s voting rights.
‘Russia occupies a unique…position in Huntington’s system of civilizations and in a broader sense in global geopolitics as well: it is simultaneously Western and non-Western, European yet distinct from Europe. This duality is not merely a philosophical or cultural curiosity but is…seemingly used as a strategic tool that some Russian regimes actively exploit in their international positioning.’
‘If we look at the crises that have damaged the EU in recent years, and evaluate them through the lens of the EU’s real interests, it becomes increasingly clear that Viktor Orbán is not the EU’s greatest threat—but its most pro-EU leader. In fact, he might be the only one.’
‘The UN, unlike the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), is a collective security system; the latter is an alliance, which deals with a specific and specified threat and has military forces to address these threats. The UN is juridically neutral, and it is coerced to wait for a threat to emerge before it can consider action.’
A general ceasefire in Ukraine may be possible this year, experts suggest, though peace remains distant. Meanwhile, Marine Le Pen faces a prison sentence and a five-year election ban, potentially reshaping the future of France’s National Rally party.
The first-ever EU–Central Asia summit has just kicked off as Ursula von der Leyen and António Costa arrived in Uzbekistan. Brussels is now trying to assert its influence over the region, which is widely seen as one of the future economic and trade powerhouses. However, most EU member states lack the deep connections and relationships with the Central Asian republic, except for one: Hungary.
Hungary is withdrawing from the International Criminal Court, following years of scepticism toward it. The announcement coincided with the arrival of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Budapest for talks with his Hungarian counterpart, Viktor Orbán.
Interpol has dropped the international arrest warrant for President of Republika Srpska Milorad Dodik, which had been requested by the Court of Bosnia and Herzegovina. Dodik welcomed the decision, stating that Interpol is ‘not at the service of Sarajevo’, and expressed his gratitude to Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán for his support.
Media reports have emerged alleging that Hungary has appealed against Interpol’s arrest warrant for Milorad Dodik. Serbia—a close ally of both Hungary and Republika Srpska—also lodged a complaint, arguing that the red notice issued on 28 March violates Article 3 of Interpol’s Statute.
Since the outbreak of the war in Ukraine, Hungary’s energy security has faced constant and varied threats—from strikes on Russian gas pipelines to the suspension of transit through Ukraine. However, if the current ceasefire agreement is implemented effectively, Budapest could finally experience stability in this regard.