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During the 2016 US presidential election campaign, Viktor Orbán stood out as the exclusive European Union leader to back the Republican candidate. This support was expected, in light of Mr Orbán's adoption of divisive ideas such as the "great replacement" theory and his suppression of journalistic liberties. Observers observe that Mr Orbán practically wrote the playbook for the Maga movement, with former White House strategist Steve Bannon once praising Orbán as a precursor to Trump.

Political Favors In advance of Hungary's Polls

Recently, amid key votes in Hungary merely six months away, Donald Trump offered electoral assistance. As Mr Orbán seeks a fifth term in office leading a nation he labels an illiberal democracy, his ruling party lags in surveys. A visit to the US capital yielded more than Trump campaign souvenirs; it brought highly beneficial campaign boosts.

Waivers and Financial Shields

Despite earlier instructing European nations on the imperative to stop all resource supplies from the Russian Federation, and threatening sanctions against states continuing to purchase Russian crude, Donald Trump agreed to allow a special exemption for Hungary – the top consumer among EU members of Russian crude. Per the Hungarian leader, the American leadership also pledged to provide a fiscal buffer to Budapest if it encounters any upcoming challenges, given that the European Union continues to withhold large sums from the EU to Hungary due to rule-of-law breaches.

The particulars of this agreement are vague. Yet Mr Trump recently demonstrated his readiness to support political friends after the US granted a $20 billion in emergency funds to Argentina’s far-right president, Javier Milei. Although Orbán did not secure a campaign-energising Trump visit to the Hungarian capital, the Oval Office meeting nevertheless proved a profitable day’s work.

EU Concerns and Global Ramifications

Among European leaders, the US president's move likely highlighted the strategic importance of the coming election, ahead of which the opposition candidate, the rival candidate, has a solid advantage in surveys. Heads of state know not to expect reliable policies from the Trump White House, and have grown used to the US president’s moves to diminish the bloc. Yet the special treatment for Orbán – which came at the price of an deal to acquire US gas and nuclear energy – blatantly weakens European goals to eliminate Russian fossil fuel imports by the target date.

• Starting in 2022, the top importers in the EU of Russian crude, the Hungarian and Slovak nations, have funneled well over £10bn to the Moscow's war operations.
• Simultaneously, the Hungarian government has consistently deployed the threat of its veto to hinder advancement in negotiations for Ukraine's EU membership.
• As Europe strives to create a coordinated approach for supporting Kyiv, and bolstering its position in any later diplomatic discussions, Orbán's pro-Russia stance at the negotiating table is still a key barrier.

Opposition Stance

Mr Magyar has steered clear of vowing a major policy shift on Ukraine, and directed his efforts on home affairs, while stressing the necessity for the country to start acting as a positive member state. Following so many years of trolling, EU officials can only remain patient. Orbán's disregard to fundamental European principles, like the upholding of minority rights and the freedom of non-governmental organizations, has remained a humiliating embarrassment for the EU. His continued obstructionism toward the Ukraine issue risks undermining its security prospects.