‘I have been asked several times by foreigners whether there is systemic anti-Semitism in Hungary. My answer was clearly no. In fact, as a Hungarian Jew, I feel much safer here than in other parts of the world.’

Whether the Western Balkans will be inside or outside Europe in the coming decades will also determine the development of the EU, President Katalin Novák emphasised.

The designation of the IRGC as a terrorist organisation would be a serious step by the EU since only Bahrein, Saud Arabia and the United States did so.

Accusations of anti-Semitism against the Hungarian prime minister are easily disproved if we look at the facts. Ever since 2010, the Orbán government has implemented pro-Jewish policies and has supported Israel at all international fora.

Instead of decoupling and returning to bloc politics, Hungary’s strategic interest lies in increasing connectivity.

‘Machne Chabad’, the kosher Rescue Village hosting Ukrainian Jewish Refugees in Hungary is the largest Jewish rescue camp in Europe, open to all Jews fleeing the war.

Despite the significant grants and investments agreed upon by the EU, and the bloc’s support for the regional association process, what Tirana didn’t bring closer is the holy grail for the Western Balkans: fast-tracked EU accession.

Poland’s efforts to turn its growing military power into political influence may be hampered by criticism of its alleged rule of law issues and concerns over its arms purchases from non-NATO countries outside Europe.

‘Weapons that Europe has at its disposal cannot become a threat to anyone so long as the continent’s democratic societies won’t demonstrate a capacity and determination to make use of them,’ Alexis Carré said.

According to Aaron Davis Miller, Americans might soon stop seeing US–Israeli ties as a special relationship.

‘Hungary is not only an ally but a friend to Israel,’ stressed Acting Prime Minister Yair Lapid in his meeting with the Hungarian President.

Hananya Naftali stressed that today Hungary is one of the safest countries in the world for Jews and Israel sees Hungary not just as a partner, but as family.

‘Italy will not be an accomplice of human trafficking,’ argued Italian Deputy Prime Minister Matteo Salvini.

According to US geopolitical strategist George Friedman, who predicted Russia’s attack on Ukraine way before 2022, Moscow will be eventually forced to negotiate a peace settlement.

The translation of the Book of Books into Hungarian not only contributed to the establishment of the Reformation in Hungary, but also had a fundamentally important effect on the social and cultural development of the country.

‘I am Giorgia, I am a woman, I am a mother, I am Christian,’ Meloni has famously proclaimed. Now she is also Italy’s first female prime minister.

The Hungarian force development programme essentially aims at acquiring NATO-compatible equipment, increasing troops levels, and building a national defence industry.

With the victory of Giorgia Meloni and the rise of the centre-right in Italy, Warsaw and Budapest have gained another important ally in their pursuit of a European conservative renaissance.

In a recent speech Ursula von der Leyen named Ukraine, Moldova, and Georgia as countries without whom the EU is not complete. She, on the other hand, only referred to the Western Balkans as a bloc, despite the fact that the accession of Albania, Kosovo, Montenegro and Serbia should be a priority considering the EU’s security interests.

It seems that it is only Europe that wants cheap energy in the markets—everyone else, including Russia and Middle Eastern energy exporters, are interested in the exact opposite.

After Brussels’ deception, Warsaw seems to be siding with Budapest again, and also seeking to revitalise the regional V4 cooperation.

The precarious situation created by the war could bring the renaissance of nuclear energy as it appears to be a proper answer to energy security issues while helping governments to meet green energy goals.

‘The problem is the Western European argument attached to these sanctions, namely: the greater the pressure exerted by the sanctions, the quicker peace will come. This mindset was wrong from the start because sanctions–as we saw earlier in the case of Iran– can only have an impact in the long run.’

While most EU member states have higher levels of gas stored, Hungary does better than the majority in terms of its annual gas consumption compared to the amount of gas stored, which is a more realistic indicator of the security of supply.

During his visit to Ukraine, Hungarian State Secretary Levente Magyar reaffirmed Hungary’s support for the war-battered country and its Hungarian minorities living in Transcarpathia.

Ukrainian Jewish community leader Rabbi Mayer Tzvi Stambler has sent a letter to Prime Minister Viktor Orbán expressing his gratitude for Hungary’s help in hosting Ukrainian Jewish refugees

Regarding the war in Hungary’s neighbourhood, Hungary’s Minister of Defence reiterated that the country’s position has been clear from the beginning: to stay out of the war and pursue Hungary’s national interests.

Hungary’s defence capability has grown significantly, which is essential not only for self-defence and deterrence purposes but also for the country to remain an influential contributor to regional, European and transatlantic security efforts in trying times.

A comprehensive study conducted by the European Jewish Association (EJA) in cooperation with the British Institute of Jewish Policy Research found that Italy and Hungary are the friendliest countries to Jewish life in Europe; Poland and Belgium are lagging behind.

Although the Visegrád Four may be facing one of the most severe disruptions of its history, it is too early to discount it as a “collateral victim of the war,” as the cooperation’s main virtue has always been its ability to overcome momentary political disputes.