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During the race for the White House in 2016, Viktor Orbán stood out as the exclusive head of an EU nation to support the Republican candidate. This alignment was hardly surprising, in light of Mr Orbán's championing of controversial notions such as the "great replacement" theory and his crackdowns on press independence. Analysts point out that Hungary's premier practically pioneered Trump's base, with one-time strategist Steve Bannon lauding him as the "Trump before Trump".

Campaign Assistance Ahead of the Hungarian Vote

In recent days, ahead of pivotal polls in Hungary merely six months away, the US president reciprocated with support. As Mr Orbán pursues a fifth term in office leading a nation he labels an non-liberal system, his political group currently trails in opinion polls. A visit to the US capital produced beyond some autographed Trump merchandise; it secured far more significant electoral advantages.

Waivers and Economic Protections

Despite earlier lecturing EU countries on the imperative to stop all energy imports from the Russian Federation, and threatening penalties against countries still to buy Russian oil, Mr Trump agreed to allow a special exemption for the Hungarian government – the largest EU consumer of Russian crude. Per the Hungarian leader, the US government also agreed to extend a economic protection to the Hungarian authorities if it runs into any future difficulties, given that the European Union persists in holding back billions in EU funding to the nation on grounds of failures to uphold the rule of law.

The specifics of this arrangement seem somewhat murky. But Mr Trump has shown his readiness to help out like-minded partners after the US extended a $20 billion in emergency funds to the Argentine leader, Argentina's president. While Mr Orbán was unable to arrange a campaign-energising Trump visit to Budapest, the Washington talks nevertheless turned out to be a successful endeavor.

EU Concerns and Global Ramifications

Among European leaders, the US president's move likely emphasized the geopolitical stakes of the coming election, ahead of which the opposition candidate, the rival candidate, holds a solid advantage in the polls. European leaders have learned not to look for steady principles from the Trump White House, and accept the Trump's moves to diminish the EU. However Mr Orbán’s exemption – which came at the price of an pledge to purchase American natural gas and nuclear power – openly contradicts the bloc's aims to eliminate Russian fossil fuel imports by 2027.

• Starting in 2022, the largest EU buyers of Russian crude, Hungary and Slovakia, have contributed well over £10bn to the Russian military campaign.
• Meanwhile, Hungary has repeatedly used the veto power to hinder advancement in Ukraine's bid to join the EU.
• While Europe works to create a coordinated approach for backing Ukraine, and enhancing its leverage in any future peace negotiations, Orbán's pro-Russia stance at the international forums remains a significant obstacle.

Rival's Approach

Péter Magyar has steered clear of promising a significant change on the war in Ukraine, and focused his campaigning on home affairs, while highlighting the importance for Hungary to finally behave as a constructive EU member. Following persistent provocations, the European Union can only hold out hope. Mr Orbán’s indifference to fundamental European principles, like the support for minority protections and the autonomy of civic groups, has persisted as a deeply troubling issue for the European Union. His ongoing blocking tactics regarding Ukraine could harm its security prospects.