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.
‘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.’
‘The final assessment in terms of the policy of appeasement would be that at the diplomatic and political level, the allies did indeed achieve their goals of buying time, mobilizing, as well as isolating Germany in the first months of the war from either Japan or Italy. They made Germany dependent on Soviet resources to sustain short-term operations, and pushed its economy on the brink of collapse.’
Hungary has introduced a retail profit margin cap limiting markups to a maximum of 10 per cent for around 1,000 essential food products across 30 categories. The regulation, effective from Monday, aims to curb rising food prices and protect household budgets.
‘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.’
At a press briefing, Minister of the Prime Minister’s Office Gergely Gulyás of Hungary announced that the newly enacted price margin regulation by the Hungarian government, per which profit margins on each product sold by retailers are legally capped at 10 per cent, will come into effect on Monday, 17 March.
‘If there is a strong government in the USA that will help Latin America fight against drugs and terrorism, that’s all we need,’ Venezuelan opposition figure Alejandro Peña Esclusa, who spent one year in Chávez’s prison and is now still in exile, told Hungarian Conservative. He talked about the new Trump presidency, the influence of the São Paulo Forum, and the socialist experiment in Venezuela.
Hungary’s epic historical drama Hunyadi launched to spectacular viewership, with over one million viewers per episode, securing the top spot on last week’s ratings. The series, blending international talent and historical grandeur, has captivated audiences and critics alike.
The EU is increasing its number of peacekeepers stationed in Bosnia and Herzegovina as tensions rise at an alarming pace in the Western Balkans. Sarajevo accuses Bosnian Serb leader Milorad Dodik of undermining the country’s constitution following a series of legislative moves after his conviction by a federal court last week. A close ally of Dodik, Viktor Orbán and Hungary now find themselves at the centre of these tensions, locked in a sharp diplomatic standoff with Bosnia.
Donald Trump is reportedly considering relocating some 35,000 US soldiers from Germany to Hungary. Viktor Orbán has long advocated for strengthening European defence and establishing a joint European army, while also fully meeting Hungary’s NATO commitments on defence spending. At the same time, Hungary remains the only EU country that shares the United States’ position on Ukraine. But how likely is this plan to materialize?