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US military operation in Venezuela sparks diplomatic uncertainty for Hungary – UPDATE: FM Szijjártó reacts
The United States launched a nighttime military operation in Venezuela, during which President Donald Trump announced the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Adela Flores de Maduro, who were reportedly taken to the US. Elite Delta Force units executed precisely targeted strikes in Caracas and other key locations, using explosions and rapid-action tactics. Maduro is accused of various crimes, including corruption and human rights violations. Hungary’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs has actively engaged with the Maduro regime for years — what does this latest development mean for Hungarian-Venezuelan relations?
US perspective on the operation
US President Donald Trump announced on Saturday that Washington conducted a “large-scale strike” against Venezuela, capturing President Maduro and his wife, Anadolu Agency reported.
“The United States of America has successfully carried out a large scale strike against Venezuela and its leader, President Nicolas Maduro, who has been, along with his wife, captured and flown out of the Country,” Trump said on his Truth Social platform.
Trump added that the operation was carried out “in conjunction with US law enforcement” and promised further details during a press conference at his Mar-a-Lago residence in Florida. He described the operation as “brilliant” and praised the planning and troops involved.
US Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau declared that Maduro will “finally face justice for his crimes,” while US Senator Mike Lee confirmed that Secretary of State Marco Rubio informed him that Maduro has been arrested to stand trial on criminal charges in the United States.
Meanwhile, Venezuelan Vice President Delcy Rodriguez said the government is “unaware” of Maduro’s whereabouts and demanded proof of life from the US. Rubio labelled Maduro as head of a “narco-terror organisation,” citing the Cartel de Los Soles, which the US formally designated as a foreign terrorist organisation in November 2025.
Historical dackground
Hungarian-Venezuelan ties date back to the mid-20th century, when tens of thousands of Hungarian refugees, primarily from World War II and the 1956 Revolution, settled in Venezuela. The local community welcomed them warmly. The Hungarian embassy in Caracas closed in 1995 due to budgetary constraints, but an honorary consulate and active community organisations, such as the Venezuelan-Hungarian Association, continued to foster cultural and social links through events and educational programmes.
This diaspora-based connection laid the foundation for a diplomatic revival in the 2020s, as Hungary sought closer relations with Latin America under a rhetoric emphasising sovereignty and multipolarity.
Key diplomatic steps
Bilateral relations accelerated in 2023. During his November visit to Caracas, Hungarian Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó met with President Maduro, agreeing to deepen cooperation in higher education, science and technology, energy, agriculture, and trade. Szijjártó also criticised EU sanctions as counterproductive and reaffirmed a shared commitment to defending national sovereignty.
By August 2025, the accreditation of a new Hungarian ambassador further strengthened bilateral ties, emphasising peace, stability, and economic partnership, alongside Hungary’s interest in Venezuela’s oil resources. These moves aligned with Prime Minister Viktor Orbán’s “Eastern Opening” strategy, which rejects Western intervention.
Szijjártó’s statement in context
A notable moment from the 2023 visit was Szijjártó’s declaration:
“President Maduro and I served almost simultaneously as foreign ministers… We agreed that, amid the current global political changes, elected leaders bear the primary responsibility to preserve their countries’ sovereignty and resist external intervention.”
This statement now contrasts sharply with the US’s lightning operation, which represents exactly the kind of “external intervention” Szijjártó referenced. The Hungarian government has yet to issue an official reaction, though the Foreign Ministry previously refused to make public the agreements signed with Venezuela.
Hungarian political reaction
Péter Magyar, leader of the Tisza Party, quickly responded via Facebook, calling Szijjártó’s words “poorly ageing statements” and sharing a 2023 photo with Maduro. He emphasised that both Venezuela and the international community have an interest in avoiding escalation, urging the Hungarian government to respond to the unfolding situation.
Geopolitical implications
Maduro’s capture is likely to reshape global power dynamics. Venezuela’s main allies, Russia and China, are expected to condemn the US action, complicating Hungary’s balancing act between NATO obligations and Eastern partnerships. Economically, Hungary’s energy dependency is a key consideration, as Venezuelan oil had previously been an option alongside Russian supplies amid sanctions. The Orbán government may need to reposition itself diplomatically to avoid isolation, while the fate of the Venezuelan-Hungarian diaspora — long a bridge between the two nations — is uncertain.
UPDATE: Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó’s reaction
“Regarding the US operation carried out in Caracas: no Hungarian citizens were harmed during the events,” Péter Szijjártó wrote in his Facebook post on Saturday evening.
“There is one Hungarian citizen in the Venezuelan capital who is registered for consular protection. We have contacted them, and they are well. We are aware of two Hungarian citizens who are in prison in Venezuela, one in a rural location that was not affected, and the other in the capital, but that area was also unaffected by the events,” he added.
“If there are any Hungarian citizens in Venezuela who have not registered for consular protection, in case of trouble, they can contact our honorary consul in Caracas or the Dutch consulate representing Hungarian interests, and our embassy in Quito is on continuous duty,” the minister concluded.
These pictures are always entertaining after the dictators are removed from office and you can see Szijjarto’s smiling face with the now deposed bag of shit. There must be one somewhere with him and Bashar al Assad.
I forgot to add that this deposed dictator was a top shelf Marxist. Now why would Fidesz make close friendship with a Marxist dictator after denouncing socialists and communists? Venezuela and Cuba have been Russia’s foothold in the Americas and Szijjarto as we all know is a Russian stooge.
Maduro was not the president, we never elected him, he stole the elections just like Chavez did, several times. He is a narcoterrorist and a dictator and we are extremely happy that the USA helped taking him away.
You are absolutely right. I hope USA will not plunder your rich minerals and oil too much. Hopefully your nation will be able to enjoy the riches too. Your country could be the next Norway, incredibly wealthy due to oil and other natural resources.
We here in Hungary we just wonder why our foreign minister is so befriend with a violent narcoterrorist dictator. Not like Maduros style of ruling was some secret back at 2023 when Szijjarto was complimenting Maduro for his “sovereign nation” efforts.
It gives me dreadful chills to think that our leading political regime is dreaming of similar “sovereign” ruling as Maduro had in Venezuela. Is Fidesz targeting to rule Hungary like Maduro ruled Venezuela?
Chavez and Maduro drove more than EIGHT MILLION Venezuelans from their homes. The country has one of the highest population displacement rates in the world. People never ever flock to Communist “utopias.” They always run away, as fast as their legs will carry the, even at the risk of losing their lives. Even American and other Leftie slime, screeching about America “kidnapping” Maduro and how the whole thing is “illegal under international law” (HAHAHAHAHA!!!), never contemplated actually moving to Venezuela to enjoy the Chavista “paradise.”
Also to be noted: The vegetable that was in the White House the past four years put out a bounty on Maduro. Trump went in and arrested his ass. THAT is what leadership looks like.
Ideologies come and go, but the one ideology that survives them all and that ultimately defeats them all, and the one ideology that is inextinguishable and invincible, is FREEDOM. It doesn’t matter how strong, brutal, all-controlling regime you’ve got; it can all collapse over night, like a house of cards, which we’ve seen happen in our lifetimes more than a few times.
Venezuelans around the world are giddily celebrating. I am happy for them. What a nice news to receive on this yom shabat kodesh.
Iranians will be next.
Guess where such “highly” educated Venezuelans ended? Yes, in orbanistan! Time to send them back, right?
With that said, obviously hun gov where not going to say anything bad about this operation. No calls for diplomatic solution or sht like that. The Hungarian double standards never cease to amuse me
Though I would like to say that, no, the U.S. is not going to fight Israel’s war against Iran, I realize that Miriam Adelson, after contributing $250,000,000 dollars to our president, owns him, lock, stock, and barrel.
To those Hungarians who think their government is a sellout – please take note of life for us in the United States – no matter whom we elect, they serve the interests of International Jewry, first and foremost.
Mr. Dear PRETEND AMERICAN can’t figure out a response to this piece that doesn’t hang well with Szijjarto and Fidesz so he changes the subject totally. Deflection. You are so obvious. So now you are displaying your ANTI -SEMITISM. That is deep down Russian.
Ok, fine. So why did a national conservative government in Hungary seek to cultivate such close relations with an authoritarian communist like Maduro?
Russia.
Just another regime change to steal the natural resources (petroleum) of a nation that was not obedient to Pirate Trump and the US anti Brics policies. This had nothing to do with illicit Drugs. The US just wants to steal the oil for itself.
You may well be right, Dear Derrick, but, not following Venezuela closely, nor having any sources whom I trust, I have not the foggiest idea what is going on, down there.
You haven’t figured out the pro-Orban pro-Russian line on this situation because nothing works in that favour. That’s why you don’t have the “foggiest” idea about anything Dear PRETEND AMERICAN.
“It’s a Mad… Mad… Mad… Mad… World”… 🙁
I had the pleasure of spending a resort vacation week meeting three gentlemen brothers from Guyana. That country next door to Venezuela is wealthy from oil. These brothers grew up poor decades ago but the people there now have a standard of living that has been totally transformed by oil wealth. Venezuela could be that like that. They just need to get rid of the Marxist regime that smiling hypocrite Szijjarto has been ingratiating himself with.
Larry, I speak Spanish well and, though I have fallen out of touch with them, I once had Venezuelan friends.
The reality of their country is, like other Latin American countries, that it has been an undeclared American territory, for most of the 20th century.
Another reality is that, before Chavez, Venezuela was a wealthy nation, compared to others in South America.
That said, the wealth was not well distributed by the governors left in charge of Venezuela by the U.S Government.
A perfect example of this is their capital city – Caracas. In that town, approximately 40% of it’s population live in the surrounding hills with a living standard that is far below the worst Hungarian town.
These people are called, ‘Malandro’.
It’s so bad there that the police do not dare go into these areas.
I have not followed Venezuela since Chavez came to power, so my information is from the Venzueala I knew – decades before.
That information?
Some Venezuelans are committed communist Leftists, others are anti-Communist, and, perhaps the largest group are those who do not really care, but, just hope for a functional country.
Voila – it sounds like our populace, just as it sounds like the Hungarian populace.
Do they, Venezuela, have a functional country?
I do not know.
As to Trump : I like most White Southerners, have supported him since he came down the escalator in July of 2015.
One reason I voted for him is to stop it with the regime change wars.
This is to the contrary of what Candidate Trump pledged.
That said, I am going to give the Trump Administration the benefit of the doubt and let them present their case.
The communists are upset that the dictator, Maduro, has been properly arrested. He was given every chance to do the right thing for the people of Venezuela, but he wanted to act tough.
The people of Venezuela are celebrating. The communists are protesting.
Chavez came to power railing against the Jews, capitalism and corporations, promising to “spread the wealth”. In the end, the people of Venezuela that did not flee had to eat the animals in the zoo to survive.
Oh, and those who complain that this was about oil, none of you communists protested when Russia, Iran and China were taking Venezuelan oil under the illegitimate dictator, Maduro. So, you are all hypocrites.
In a world of snakes, you do what you have to survive.
I hear peter was armed with sound and video to scan the layout of madero bunker and passed it on to trump.