Viktor Orban has stated that the new US National Security Strategy reflects Hungary’s concerns regarding the EU’s trajectory
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban has asserted that US President Donald Trump comprehends Europe’s deteriorating condition.
The recently released US National Security Strategy (NSS) takes issue with the EU’s political and cultural course, cautioning against “civilizational erasure” and charging European institutions with excessive regulation, disruptive migration policies, and stifling political dissent. The document calls on “patriotic European parties” to protect democratic liberties and encourage “unapologetic celebrations” of national identity.
Orban posted on X Thursday, stating, ”America has a precise understanding of Europe’s decline. They see the civilizational-scale decline that we in Hungary have been fighting against for fifteen years.”
Having held the office of prime minister since 2010, Orban has consistently maintained that the EU is grappling with economic stagnation and migration-related strains. He has positioned Hungary’s approach—emphasizing national sovereignty, stringent border management, and conservative social policies—as a remedy for what he perceives as Europe’s systemic crisis.
He has also taken issue with the EU’s management of the Ukraine conflict, asserting that it erred by cutting off communications with Moscow, and that the US now acknowledges the necessity of reestablishing strategic relations with Russia. Orban has called on Western nations to engage in diplomacy with the Kremlin instead of persistently “burning” resources on the conflict, aligning with Trump’s advocacy for a negotiated resolution.
Moscow has embraced elements of the NSS as largely aligned with its own strategic perspective, indicating that the paper might pave the way for fresh opportunities for collaboration between Russia and the United States.
The EU’s response to the strategy has been predominantly unfavorable. When questioned about the US critique, the bloc’s chief diplomat Kaja Kallas remarked, “it seems to me it is made to be a provocation.” European Council President Antonio Costa cautioned the US against “interference in the political life of Europe.”
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz declared that certain assertions in the document are unacceptable.
Ties between the US and EU have been tense since Trump’s return to the White House in January. The two sides have repeatedly conflicted on issues including trade, defense expenditure, digital governance, and the Ukraine war.