Photo: Eurasia
Mariann Őry
01/01/1970 01:00
Would Donald Trump have deserved the Nobel Peace Prize?
In my view, he would have deserved it already, because he has done a great deal for world peace so far. But if he were to receive the Nobel Prize later, that might be even more deserved—especially if by then he manages to stop the war against Ukraine. Of course, it would have been nice to toast Trump’s Nobel Peace Prize at the Budapest summit! But that may still happen…
What do you expect from the future of the Israeli–Palestinian conflict? Can the U.S. president’s peace efforts bring lasting stability?
We should first be glad that a ceasefire has been achieved and work to make it lasting. From the Hungarian side, we are ready to contribute as much as we can to stabilizing the situation in the region in the long run. It matters to us what the future brings to the Holy Land, not least because a large number of Hungarian citizens live in Israel—one of the released hostages was Hungarian as well. The past two years have been a thorough lesson that Israel’s security is also the security of Hungarians living there. And, after all, that region is the cradle of Christianity! It is vital that Christians there can remain and thrive in their homeland. So there are many reasons for us to do whatever we can for this cause.
How do these developments affect the war in Ukraine? What will peace depend on?
With the ceasefire in the Holy Land, President Trump’s hands are free to focus all his efforts on resolving the Russian question. He immediately offered President Putin a meeting in Budapest. He personally sees the key issue as whether he can convince the Russian president—here or elsewhere, now or later—that Russia is not doing as well on the front as it would like. This persuasion, of course, is not achieved through fine words alone. It also involves, for example, how long the remaining Russian oil refineries can continue to supply fuel to petrol stations after drone attacks, not to mention refuelling tanks. Another part of the persuasion is that the U.S. has dusted off the Tomahawks in its warehouses and seriously assessed how many could be sent to Ukraine while keeping enough for its own stockpile. The prospect of rapid peace depends on when these realities become convincing arguments for Russia—without the situation escalating to a dangerous level.
The European Union still does not shape its policy on war and sanctions in line with Hungarian interests. How can this be counterbalanced?
I would put it differently. I think the Brussels leadership believes they know our interests better than we do. This is why we have frictions with them. But there are common points too. Both they and we say that we are interested in achieving peace as soon as possible and in the full application of international law—though they undoubtedly see different ways to achieve this. Our assessment of the situation is closer to Washington’s than to Brussels’. The fact is that Brussels cannot compel Moscow to do what it wants—unless it relies on U.S. power and support. Therefore, they too will be forced to rely on President Trump—and at that point, sooner or later, our paths will converge. To use your phrasing, one could say that Washington can be used to balance Brussels.
What role can Hungary play in conflict resolution and in the transformation of the world order in general?
We must know our own political weight and our size. As Prime Minister Viktor Orbán often says: “A proper sense of humility, ladies and gentlemen!” Sound decisions are born from an accurate understanding of reality. Hungary will not be the one to reshape the world order—but we will not watch passively either, because we have both an interest and a responsibility. Our primary duty is to ensure prosperity, freedom, peace, and security for the people of Hungary and for Hungarians beyond our borders. To that end, we will do everything within our power for peace—for example, we would gladly host the U.S. and Russian presidents in Budapest if they come. But it would be an exaggeration to think that we will be the ones to bring peace to Ukraine or anywhere else in the world.
When it comes to the world order, our first and foremost task is to avoid thinking in clichés—such as forcing reality into the framework of “multipolarity” or “unipolarity,” or into that of a “declining” or, conversely, a “world-saving” Western civilization. We must understand the world order in its true complexity—what it is like and where it is heading. On this basis, we can successfully seize opportunities and protect our country from the dangers inherent in the world order as it actually is.
Why is Prime Minister Viktor Orbán the only EU leader maintaining good relations with all major powers?
Because openness and realism are in short supply in international affairs—that’s why. Besides, it is not only in our interest to maintain good relations; it is in theirs as well. It is worthwhile to be on good terms with a country led by Fidesz and the Christian Democrats (KDNP), as Hungary enjoys popularity in many parts of the world. That is the key to good relations. The fact that leaders are willing to talk with us and come to Budapest increasingly shows that it is, indeed, worthwhile to maintain good relations with us. I recommend that those who do not yet see it this way consider this with due humility and respect.
Why is it important to implement the strategy of connectivity?
The strategy can be summarized as follows: “Hungarian diplomacy builds in every direction where we have interests, provided that doing so does not hinder the pursuit of other, more important interests.” If we want prosperity in Hungary, we must make the most of what every international partner can offer us—and for that, it is worth maintaining good relations with them. Business is business.
The author is Deputy Editor-in-Chief of Eurasia
