Today, Hungarian foreign policy is marked by the adoption of Putin’s blueprint for dismantling the rule of law, the uncritical embrace of American far-right populism, and the service of Russian and Chinese imperial interests. As a result, over the past fifteen years Orbán has become increasingly isolated within our own alliance system. In foreign affairs, the government is sitting back-to-front on the horse, too: it declares battles against our allies, while courting the challengers and adversaries of the West. Its true purpose is not the “defence of sovereignty” but the preservation of systemic corruption. The European Union is mocked daily, its leaders ridiculed, even as the government seeks to pocket the benefits of membership. In Russia’s war against Ukraine, the Orbán government parrots and disseminates Moscow’s self-justifying propaganda instead of standing with the victim alongside its NATO allies.

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Orbán has reduced diplomacy from the level of state interest to the level of party politics. Since Fidesz was expelled from the largest European party family, the European People’s Party, it has allied itself exclusively with far-right parties and notorious dictators. This runs counter to Hungary’s national interests, both at the level of foreign policy and in terms of wider national strategy, and it harms the interests of Hungarian minorities living in other states and of the diaspora as well.

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Hungary must pursue a balanced and pragmatic foreign policy that rebuilds trust, secures access to the benefits of NATO and EU membership – including suspended EU funds – and allows meaningful participation in alliance decision-making, in shaping common policies and further enlargements. For stable and beneficial international relations, good governance should be guided by the following principles:

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COOPERATION WITH THE EUROPEAN UNION, ACCESS TO EU FUNDS AND PROGRAMMES
The restoration of the rule of law and compliance with EU norms go hand in hand. Effective action against corruption, accession to the European Public Prosecutor’s Office, and the establishment of an independent anti-corruption prosecution service at home could make EU funds accessible. Government communication on the EU must shift from constant conflict-seeking to a constructive tone, in line with the view held by the overwhelming majority of public opinion.

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STRENGTHENING SECURITY COOPERATION
Hungary’s security is guaranteed by NATO’s military shield and close cooperation with EU allies. Within our means, we must play an active role in NATO’s common defence policy. It is in our vital interest to support a lasting settlement of the war in Ukraine, respecting the country’s sovereignty, good-neighbourly relations, and the interests of the Hungarian minority living there.

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LASTING GOOD RELATIONS WITH NEIGHBOURING STATES
Hungary currently borders seven states, since the political transformation after 1990 gave statehood to all the nations with whom we have coexisted for more than a thousand years. This situation both facilitates the development of bilateral relations tailored to each neighbour’s specificities and creates new tasks for Hungarian diplomacy. The goal with our neighbours must be to realise joint projects that outlast changes of government and strengthen mutual rapprochement, including in energy supply, transport, environmental protection, control of pandemics and migration, tourism, culture and more.

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SUPPORT FOR HUNGARIAN MINORITIES
It is our constitutional duty to uphold the rights of Hungarian minorities in neighbouring states. Hungarians living abroad must not be used to bolster the domestic votes of one or another party, to divide minorities politically, or set them against Hungarians at home. The task is to improve the conditions for their survival in their homelands. This requires constructive cooperation with the majority nations and political leadership of the countries concerned.

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REGIONAL COOPERATION
Landlocked Hungary can draw on the joint actions of various Central and Eastern European regional groupings. As a member of the Visegrád Four, we could become an influential shaping force in the EU, through active participation in European decision-making and common foreign policy – provided there is strong internal cohesion among the four countries. Through Poland, the V4 can link to broader regions, including NATO’s strengthened north-eastern pillar and the revived German–French–Polish “Weimar Triangle”. Hungary’s scope for action is likewise broadened by the Three Seas Initiative, which brings together 12 EU member states between the Baltic, Black and Adriatic Seas.

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ENERGY SECURITY
Because of its landlocked position, secure energy supply is of vital importance to Hungary. Only by developing diversified, sustainable sources of supply and transport can the country avoid being vulnerable to political or natural risks, or to the energy policy manoeuvres of Russia or other great powers.

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GLOBAL RELATIONS
Given our geopolitical embeddedness, Hungary has no alternative to European economic relations, especially in trade. At the same time, we must seek beneficial business opportunities with more distant countries in the global East and South. Relations with major economic players are particularly important, but Hungary must not become subservient to either China or Russia.