Hungary

After years of concerted post-communist political and economic reform, Hungary is an active member of both NATO and the European Union, as well as a close ally of the United States. As with the rest of the Central European region, though, Hungary’s relationship with Western institutions is under stress. Russia and China compete for Hungary’s attention, and concerns over rule of law and economic uncertainty in the country strain transatlantic ties. The United States needs to increase engagement and investment in the region to assist in Hungary’s forward momentum.

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In the News

Apr 16, 2017

Gedmin in the Hill: Despite Differences, GOP Should Defend Soros in Hungary

By Jeffrey Gedmin

Read the full article here.

Hungary
Russian President Vladimir Putin, June 15, 2016

NATOSource

Dec 2, 2016

Beware: The Russian Bear is Getting Bolder

By Editorial Board, Washington Post

In NATO member Hungary, Russian agents have been fingered for training with a neo-Nazi militia; in the tiny Balkan state of Monte­negro, which is on the verge of joining the transatlantic alliance, Moscow is accused of plotting a violent coup….

Hungary Intelligence

New Atlanticist

Nov 8, 2016

Hungary Descends into Nationalist Bolshevism

By David Koranyi and Chris Maroshegyi

In 2010, Viktor Orbán was swept to power on the back of a populist backlash against Hungary’s left-wing government, which was mired in corruption scandals and criticized for austerity measures it adopted in the wake of the 2008 financial crisis. Today, Orbán threatens Hungary’s democratic character. As prime minister, Orbán has embarked on a dangerous […]

Hungary

EconoGraphics

Apr 1, 2016

The European Refugee Surge: Transforming Challenges into Opportunities

By Alvaro Morales Salto Weis & TK Spandhla

Asylum applications to the European Union (EU) set an all-time record in 2015, more than doubling the 2014 figure, according to EUROSTAT. After the recent agreement between Turkey and the EU, the influx of refugees is expected to decrease significantly.

Afghanistan Europe & Eurasia
Gen. Ben Hodges, Commander of US Army Europe, Dec. 9, 2015

NATOSource

Dec 10, 2015

Russia Could Block Access to Baltic Sea, US General Says

By Defense One, Defense News, and Army News Service

From Marcus Weisgerber, Defense One:  Russia has moved ballistic missiles to and conducted nuclear strike drills from its Kaliningrad exclave, prompting Pentagon fears that Moscow could block access to the Baltic Sea.

Central Europe Hungary
Leaders of nine NATO states meeting in Bucharest, Nov. 4, 2015

NATOSource

Nov 4, 2015

Nine Heads of State Call on Alliance to ‘Strengthen the Eastern Flank of NATO’

By Calea Europeana

“We, the Presidents of the Republic of Bulgaria, the Republic of Estonia, Hungary, the Republic of Latvia, the Republic of Lithuania, the Republic of Poland, Romania and the Slovak Republic and the President of the Chamber of Deputies of the Parliament of the Czech Republic.

Central Europe Hungary

New Atlanticist

Oct 7, 2015

Hungary’s Gazprom Renegotiation and the Decline of Traditional Contracts

By Nolan Theisen

Since it was signed in 1996, the Panrusgáz contract with Russia has dictated the structure of Hungary’s natural gas market. While this contract’s expiration will be delayed until closer to 2018, it is clear that a new agreement will be negotiated on entirely different terms than before. Like other Central and Eastern European (CEE) countries, […]

Energy & Environment Energy Markets & Governance
Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto and Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg, Nov. 18, 2014

NATOSource

Oct 2, 2015

Hungary Announces It Will Host 7th NATO Planning Center

By Reuters

Hungary, along with other states in central and eastern Europe, will host a command center to help coordinate deployment of NATO’s rapid reaction force in an emergency, the government said on Friday.

Hungary NATO

New Atlanticist

Sep 22, 2015

Will the European Union’s Plan to Distribute Migrants Hurt Europe?

By Ashish Kumar Sen

European ministers on September 22 approved a plan that would force EU member states to take in their share of 120,000 migrants, a majority of whom are fleeing the war in Syria. In an unusual break from procedure, which emphasizes consensus on issues of national sovereignty, the ministers decided the issue on the basis of […]

Central Europe Europe & Eurasia

Middle East Strategy Task Force

Sep 19, 2015

David Miliband: Europe’s Feeble Response to Migrant Crisis Threatens EU

By Ashish Kumar Sen

Former British Foreign Secretary says United States, too, must ‘up its game’ and take in more refugees Europe’s “feeble” response to the migrant crisis—the largest displacement of people since World War II—is threatening the European Union, and European countries as well as the United States need to step up to do more to help these […]

European Union Germany

Experts