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In the course of the race for the White House in 2016, Viktor Orbán stood out as the exclusive head of an EU nation to endorse the Republican candidate. This alignment was hardly surprising, considering Mr Orbán's embrace of contentious notions including great replacement ideology and his crackdowns on journalistic liberties. Analysts observe that Mr Orbán essentially pioneered the Make America Great Again campaign, with ex-Trump adviser Steve Bannon lauding him as a precursor to Trump.

Electoral Support Ahead of Hungary's Polls

Last week, ahead of key votes in Hungary just approaching in six months, Donald Trump reciprocated with support. While Orbán pursues a fifth straight win presiding over a nation he describes as an illiberal state, his Fidesz party lags in the polls. A meeting to the US capital resulted in not just Trump campaign souvenirs; it brought far more significant electoral advantages.

Special Treatment and Financial Shields

Even though previously instructing European states on the need to halt all resource supplies from Russia, and threatening penalties against states still to import Russian energy, the US president consented to grant a special exemption for Hungary – the biggest user in the EU of Russian petroleum. Per the Hungarian leader, the US government also agreed to provide a fiscal buffer to the Hungarian authorities should it faces any future difficulties, given that the European Union persists in holding back large sums from the EU to Hungary because of violations of legal standards.

The details of this deal seem unclear. But Mr Trump has shown his willingness to support like-minded partners when the United States granted a a $20 billion loan to Javier Milei, the South American leader. Even though Orbán did not secure a presidential tour to the Hungarian capital, the discussions nevertheless was a successful endeavor.

Brussels' Worries and Geopolitical Stakes

Among European leaders, Trump's actions probably emphasized the strategic importance of the forthcoming polls, before which the moderate contender, Magyar, enjoys a comfortable lead in opinion data. EU chiefs are accustomed not to look for steady principles from the Trump White House, and are familiar with the American leader's attempts to undermine the European Union. However the special treatment for Orbán – which came at the price of an agreement to buy American energy resources – openly contradicts EU aspirations to end imports of Russian energy by 2027.

• Starting in 2022, the largest EU buyers of Russian crude, Hungary and Slovakia, have provided well over £10bn to the Moscow's war operations.
• Meanwhile, the Hungarian government has repeatedly used the threat of its veto to stymie progress in Ukraine’s EU accession talks.
• As Europe strives to create a coordinated approach for supporting Kyiv, and enhancing its leverage in any later diplomatic discussions, Orbán's pro-Russia stance at the negotiating table remains a significant obstacle.

Opposition Stance

The opposition candidate has steered clear of vowing a significant change on the war in Ukraine, and focused his campaigning on domestic issues, while emphasizing the necessity for Hungary to start acting as a productive EU partner. After enduring so many years of trolling, the European Union can only remain patient. Mr Orbán’s indifference to fundamental European principles, like the upholding of minority rights and the autonomy of civic groups, has persisted as a humiliating embarrassment for the EU. His persistent opposition on Ukrainian matters threatens to weaken its security prospects.