Powerful findings: Hungary’s diplomacy shines in global survey
The Lowy Institute regularly shares its Global Diplomacy Index, with Hungary creeping higher and higher on the list each passing year. In 2024, the Orbán cabinet’s diplomatic network expansion was so astounding that our country reached the 20th position on the list, preceded only by wealthier countries.
“How do nations project influence? Among the various forms of national power — economic, military and technological — diplomacy has been one of the most undercounted, and thus often overlooked, levers of influence”, the Lowy Institute shared in the foreword of their newest Global Diplomacy Index.
The institute aims to map the world’s most significant diplomatic networks every second year and present their findings. “The 2024 release of the Global Diplomacy Index visualises the diplomatic networks of 66 countries and territories in Asia, the Group of 20 (G20), and the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD)”, they wrote.
Is Hungarian diplomacy on the rise?
Concerning Hungary’s diplomatic network expansion, the institute added the following remark: “Several other countries have grown their networks substantially since 2021. Czechia, Ireland, Luxembourg, and Saudi Arabia each added eight new posts; Hungary and New Zealand both added seven; and Colombia and Pakistan both added six”.
In 2016, Hungary occupied the 30th place in the Global Diplomacy Index with just 104 posts. However, by 2024, Hungary ascended to the 20th position with a total of 140 posts, a clear demonstration of the country’s diplomatic network enhancement. Hungary’s position on the list is surpassed only by wealthier nations. Additionally, only Switzerland boasts a smaller population than Hungary (8.7 million compared to 10 million). It is worth noting a discrepancy in the institute’s population data, as Hungary’s population is below 10 million. As we reported in THIS article, the latest estimation stood at 9.58 million at the end of 2023.
Orbán dominates headlines
In the field of global diplomacy, Hungary’s significance remains a subject of widespread discussion, with experts consistently acknowledging Prime Minister Orbán’s pivotal role in shaping the country’s diplomatic stance. Orbán’s assertive actions and strategic vetoes have amplified Hungary’s diplomatic footprint in the world of politics, which surpasses that of many comparable nations. For instance, while the name of the incumbent Romanian president may elude the consciousness of Washington or Beijing, Orbán’s influence resonates globally, evident even in the discourse surrounding former President Trump’s electoral campaign.
Furthermore, recent data underscores Orbán’s enduring prominence, with media coverage of his policies eclipsing that of Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni. This trend persists despite Meloni’s current prominence as a key figure within the European Union, given the constraints posed by Macron’s presidential term limits and Germany’s internal challenges. Meloni’s recent collaboration with Orbán in securing unanimous EU support for Ukraine exemplifies her burgeoning role, yet Orbán’s enduring visibility remains unchallenged.
Nevertheless, Orbán’s political and diplomatic manoeuvres are not without controversy. The prolonged obstruction of Sweden’s NATO accession by the Orbán cabinet, spanning nearly two years, risks compromising Hungary’s standing within the military alliance. Additionally, Orbán’s scepticism towards the EU’s assistance to Ukraine, advocating for peace negotiations over military intervention, has strained relations with key allies such as the USA and Germany.
Speculation abounds regarding Orbán’s geopolitical allegiances, with some voices suggesting a closer alignment with Putin’s Russia rather than traditional partners such as Biden or NATO. Orbán’s government, hopeful for a Trump victory in the elections, anticipates a potential reset in US-Hungary relations, potentially mitigating critical scrutiny.
For further insights, the Lowy Institute’s Global Diplomacy Index offers comprehensive analysis HERE.
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The only problem is that Hungary’s diplomacy has been used for malicious purposes to promote Russian and Chinese interests and relentlessly undermine European collective security. Hungary has been fighting for the forces of evil. Is that something that “shines”?
Disrupting a thirty one (31) country Member organization NATO and a twenty seven (27) Member organization the European Union, Hungary (“with a population just slightly bigger than Switzerland” by utilizing its veto right is either “famous” or “notorious”. Situational. Imagine you are a member of a club, association, whatever. And there is always this one person, grandstanding and making proceedings protracted and difficult. Would you be in awe – or annoyed?
I get asked about Mr. Orbán at almost every meeting with foreigners and to defend Hungary in general. I just point at the “stability” aspect, however with some of the goings-on regarding our Politicians actually making things difficult in certain sectors is not bolstering that argument:
https://www.fr.de/wirtschaft/eu-deutsche-firmen-schlagen-alarm-enteignung-wird-in-ungarn-zur-norm-viktor-orban-92432412.html