Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán delivered a speech criticizing the European Union and expressed strong support for Donald Trump’s bid in the US presidential election, AP News reports.
He argued that the EU is neglecting its own interests by following the US’s Democratic foreign policy, which he believes is leading Europe towards self-destruction. Orbán claimed that Trump’s re-election would steer the US back from a post-nationalist liberal state to a nation-state, and reiterated conservative views that Trump is being unfairly targeted to prevent his electoral success. He warned of an emerging Asia-oriented world order, citing China, India, Pakistan, and Indonesia as becoming dominant global centers.
Orbán expressed skepticism about Ukraine’s prospects of joining NATO or the EU, suggesting that Ukraine would remain a buffer state and that future security guarantees would need to be negotiated between the US and Russia. Orbán also accused the US of causing the 2022 Nord Stream pipeline explosions without providing evidence.
Throughout Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, Orbán has diverged from other EU leaders by refusing to supply Ukraine with weapons, and often obstructing financial aid and sanctions against Russia. His speech comes amidst increasing criticism from European partners due to Orbán’s independent diplomatic initiatives to Moscow and Beijing, aimed at ending Russia’s war in Ukraine.
