07 Mar Dániel Bartha comments Orbán’s latest “peace mission” in 24.hu (12.13.2024)
As part of the second phase of his so-called “peace mission,” Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán has engaged in a series of high-profile diplomatic meetings within a short timeframe. Over the span of about ten days, he first visited Pope Francis at the Vatican, then traveled to Florida to meet with Donald Trump at his Mar-a-Lago estate. On Wednesday morning, he held a one-hour phone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin, and by Thursday, he was already in Turkey for discussions with President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan at the presidential palace.
President of CEID commented the goals of this peace mission to Hungarian online news portal 24.hu
“Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán has long aspired to play a global political role, and his recent diplomatic efforts reflect this ambition, according to foreign policy expert Dániel Bartha. Initially, Orbán aimed for a key position within the European Union, but after failing to achieve this, he shifted his focus to international politics, especially amid the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war.”
Bartha explains that Orbán’s diplomatic engagements—such as meetings and calls—are politically valuable within Hungary, countering opposition narratives that claim Hungary is isolated from international diplomacy. These actions help reassure Orbán’s supporters that, despite partial isolation in Europe, Hungary remains active on the global stage.
Orbán is also seeking to establish himself as a mediator in the Russia-Ukraine conflict. However, his direct outreach to Russian President Vladimir Putin has drawn criticism from the EU, as it bypasses European diplomatic structures. That said, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz also spoke with Putin in November, receiving similar criticism from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.
To bolster his credibility, Orbán first met with Pope Francis and Donald Trump, both of whom share a similar stance on ending the war. Still, Bartha questions why other global actors would recognize Hungary as a mediator, given that figures like Trump and Scholz have already engaged in direct talks. Moreover, Turkey has historically played the primary mediation role in major geopolitical conflicts.
Additionally, Bartha suggests that Orbán’s call with Putin was not primarily about peace negotiations but rather economic and energy issues, particularly the Paks II nuclear power plant project. With severe challenges facing the project, including soaring costs, Orbán likely used the opportunity to address these concerns directly with Putin. The Hungarian government’s push for peace diplomacy might also serve to divert attention from the difficulties surrounding Paks II.
In summary, while Orbán is trying to position himself as a global peace mediator, his motivations are also influenced by domestic political considerations and Hungary’s economic interests.
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