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Throughout the 2016 campaign for the US presidency, Hungary's prime minister emerged as the exclusive European Union leader to support Donald Trump. This alignment came as no shock, given the Hungarian leader's embrace of controversial ideas such as population replacement concept and his crackdowns on journalistic liberties. Analysts have noted that Hungary's premier practically pioneered the Make America Great Again campaign, with one-time strategist Steve Bannon lauding him as the "Trump before Trump".

Electoral Support Ahead of Hungarian Elections

Last week, ahead of key votes in Hungary just half a year off, Donald Trump reciprocated with support. As Mr Orbán aims for a fifth consecutive term governing a country he describes as an illiberal state, his political group lags in opinion polls. A meeting to the US capital yielded more than some autographed Trump merchandise; it brought highly beneficial campaign boosts.

Energy Exemptions and Economic Protections

Even though earlier instructing EU countries on the need to halt all fuel purchases from the Russian Federation, and warning of restrictions against countries persisting to buy Russian oil, the US president agreed to allow a special exemption for the Hungarian government – the largest EU consumer of Russian oil. According to Mr Orbán, the US government also agreed to offer a economic protection to Hungary's capital should it encounters any future difficulties, given that the European Union persists in holding back substantial EU funds to Hungary on grounds of failures to uphold the rule of law.

The details of this arrangement are unclear. But the US president illustrated his readiness to assist ideological allies after the United States provided a $20bn emergency credit line to the Argentine leader, the South American leader. Although Orbán did not secure a Trump trip to Budapest to the Hungarian capital, the Washington talks nevertheless was a successful endeavor.

Brussels' Worries and Global Ramifications

In the corridors of the EU, Trump's actions probably further underlined the international consequences of the coming election, before which the centrist challenger, Péter Magyar, holds a clear edge in surveys. Heads of state know not to expect reliable policies from the Trump administration, and accept the American leader's efforts to belittle the bloc. Yet the special treatment for Orbán – secured through an deal to acquire American natural gas and nuclear power – flagrantly undermines EU aspirations to phase out Russian oil and gas by the year 2027.

• Starting in 2022, the largest EU buyers of Russian petroleum, these two countries, have contributed substantial funds to the Kremlin’s war effort.
• Simultaneously, Budapest has repeatedly used the blocking vote to hinder advancement in Ukraine's bid to join the EU.
• As Europe strives to develop a cohesive plan for aiding the Ukrainian government, and strengthening its hand in any upcoming peace talks, Mr Orbán’s Putin-friendly presence at the international forums remains a significant obstacle.

Opposition Stance

The opposition candidate has avoided promising a drastic turnaround on the war in Ukraine, and focused his campaigning on domestic issues, while stressing the need for Hungary to begin operating as a positive member state. After years of repeated disruptions, EU officials can only hold out hope. Mr Orbán’s indifference to core EU ideals, such as the protection of minority groups and the independence of civil society institutions, has long been a source of shame for the European Union. His ongoing blocking tactics toward Ukraine could harm its future security.