Hungary and the Art of Being Useful to Washington
As the Trump administration reshapes transatlantic relations, Hungary has a unique opportunity to position itself as a key player in the new order.
As the Trump administration reshapes transatlantic relations, Hungary has a unique opportunity to position itself as a key player in the new order.
Hungarian Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade Péter Szijjártó stated that Hungary firmly rejects Ukraine’s fast-track EU accession, especially if it comes at the expense of the Transcarpathian Hungarian community. For the past ten years, Kyiv has gradually curtailed the rights of national minorities, including Transcarpathian Hungarians.
‘On the day the US temporarily halted military aid to Ukraine, Kellogg delivered a speech at CFR in Washington, DC. He emphasized that Ukraine had several opportunities to sign the US–Ukraine $500 billion Minerals Deal, including during his visit to Kyiv on 19 February and during Zelenskyy’s last trip to Washington, which is unlikely to be remembered as a successful diplomatic effort.’
‘There is a historic chance for US–Hungary relations to peak, and it depends in no small part on the two leading players. Even though Hungary is a member of the EU and NATO, in the last two decades, American Democratic administrations have been explicitly hostile towards it…With the US president behind him, Orbán could be much more effective in strengthening his conservative agenda in Brussels, which until now has been an uphill struggle.’
Liu Shaoang secured third place in the 1500m final on the first medal day of the ISU World Short Track Championships in Beijing on 15 March, earning China its first medal at the competition. Along with his brother, Liu Shaolin Sándor, he previously represented Hungary on the world stage, making sports history by winning the country’s first-ever gold medal at the Winter Olympics in 2018.
Prime Minister Viktor Orbán emphasized the timeless nature of Hungarian freedom in his speech marking the anniversary of the Hungarian Revolution and War of Independence of 1848–1849, while also delivering sharp criticism of the European Union and its imperial ambitions. He outlined 12 demands for Brussels, including a call for a ‘Union without Ukraine’.
15 March have been portrayed differently in each era. More recent productions focus on building a heroic myth or on reality, while before the regime change, the historical events of the 1848–49 Revolution were rather wrapped in a subtle critique of socialism. Magyar Krónika has collected five Hungarian films that bring the revolutionary events to life.
‘Our church is in an accessible, safe location, a single-story building, and a popular venue. We hold a traditional worship service. Most of the congregation is elderly. We deeply appreciate everything they have done for the church and the congregation, so we continue to serve them in the way they prefer.’
Corruption appears to be among the ‘common European values’ often touted by mainstream parties in the European Parliament as yet another probe shakes the EU’s legislative institution. Initial reports suggest that around 15 former and current MEPs may be involved in a bribery case linked to Chinese telecom giant Huawei.
Although the regime change in Syria raised hopes for the restoration of stability, the protection of religious minorities has still not been realized. The mass killings committed in recent times indicate that minority communities remain in grave danger, which calls for decisive action from the international community.