Orbán applauds Trump's criticism of the EU: "Finally, we won't fight alone"

BerlinHungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán praised the new US security strategy on Thursday and deemed US President Donald Trump's criticisms of the European Union and its supposed decline to be accurate. "The United States has a precise understanding of Europe's decline. They see the decline on a civilizational scale that we in Hungary have been fighting against for fifteen years. Finally, we are not fighting alone," Orbán said, satisfied, in a message posted on social media.

Orbán, a longtime ally of Trump and a thorn in Brussels' side, believes that the new US National Security Strategy It is "the most important and interesting document of recent years." The document, published by the White House on December 5, summarizes the US president's foreign policy priorities. Regarding Europe, Washington harshly criticizes European alliesHe denounces its economic weakness, questions its migration policy, and anticipates the "disappearance of European civilization" if European leaders do not change course.

The Hungarian Prime Minister sees reflected in the White House document some of the ideas he himself has been advocating in recent years, but which have been criticized or ignored by Brussels and other European leaders. "You reap what you sow," he asserted. "The Americans also see that Europe has reached an economic dead end," Orbán emphasized, warning his European colleagues that "a weak ally cannot defend itself and cannot be trusted in international affairs."

Relationship with Russia

"They also see the civilizational crisis in Europe. They see that the values of European civilization, democracy, and the free market are in danger," the prime minister analyzed regarding the Trump administration's document. Orbán also positively assesses Washington's understanding that "European liberals" have dedicated themselves in recent years to destroying Europe's relations with Moscow, which, in his opinion, was "a mistake." Orbán also explained that Washington understood that Europe needed to rebuild its relationship with Russia "at a strategic level."

Orbán, who returned to power in Hungary in 2010 After a first term between 1998 and 2002, he has continued to maintain close ties with Moscow even after the start of Russia's war of aggression in Ukraine in February 2022. The Hungarian leader has often criticized the European Union's sanctions against Russia for the war.

The European Union agreed last week permanently halt its natural gas imports from Russia by September 2027 and gradually eliminate oil imports to cease importing altogether by the end of that same year. But Hungary's energy security remains dependent on Russian oil and gas, both now and in the future, as Orbán emphasized in a meeting in late November with Russian President Vladimir Putin at the Kremlin.

In early November, Trump granted Hungary a sanctions waiver to purchase Russian oil and gas after hosting Orbán at the White House. The two leaders, longtime political acquaintances, admire each other and draw inspiration from one another. The Hungarian prime minister supported Trump in both presidential campaigns, and Trump has repeatedly praised Orbán, whom he considers a tough, sometimes controversial, but respected man.

Ultranationalist populism applauded in the US

Orbán presents himself as a champion of illiberal democracy. US Republican leaders admire his ultranationalist populism, his fight against immigration and against LGBTQ+ rights, and their control of the justice system and the mediaFrom Brussels, both the European Commission and the European Parliament frequently criticize Orbán's autocratic drift and denounce the collapse of democracy, the rule of law, and fundamental rights in the country.

After four consecutive terms as prime minister, Orbán is trailing in the polls for the upcoming parliamentary elections in Hungary in April. The Hungarian ultranationalist leader has seen his popularity plummet since the emergence of the Tisza (Respect and Freedom) party of opposition leader Péter MagyarTisza had 47% of the vote intention at the end of November, compared to 37% for Fidesz, Orbán's party, with a conservative nationalist and right-wing populist ideology, according to a recent poll.