Orban and Trump will meet on March 8

2024-03-04 14:50:51, Kosova & Bota CNA

Hungarian Prime Minister, Viktor Orban, and former American President, Donald Trump

Hungary's nationalist Prime Minister Viktor Orbán will meet former US President Donald Trump on Friday, March 8 in Florida, shortly after he publicly backed his staunch ally in his bid to win the election. US presidential elections to be held later this year.

Orban, a right-wing politician who has repeatedly clashed with the European Union over his anti-migrant campaigns and rulings that have placed the judiciary, non-governmental organizations and media under state control, has been described by Trump as a "great leader ".

Orbán's conservative family policies have earned him praise from populist figures in the US and Hungary in recent years has held meetings of the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC).

This conference will be held for the third time next month.

The Hungarian prime minister, who has refused to send arms to Kiev and has maintained close trade relations with Russia since the start of the Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022, has repeatedly said that only with Trump's return to the White House can peace be achieved in Ukraine. .

"It's not gambling, but it's betting on the only reasonable chance, and we in Hungary bet on the return of President Trump," Orban said during an economic forum on Monday.

"The only chance for the world to have a relatively quick peace agreement is political change in the US, and that has to do with who is president."

Trump, who is running for a presidential term, sparked anger among Western allies last month after suggesting the US might not protect NATO allies that do not spend enough on defense against a possible Russian invasion.

Orban has stated that this year's US presidential elections and European Parliament elections in June will be crucial as conservatives in Europe and the US must fight together to "recapture" the institutions in Washington and Brussels from the liberals, who, according to Orban, they threaten Western civilization.

Orban, who has been in power since 2010, has faced tensions with the administration of US President Joe Biden, largely over the delay in approving Sweden's NATO membership.

After a long delay, last week the Hungarian Parliament approved the admission of Sweden to NATO and the legislation is expected to be signed by the Hungarian president this week./ REL