I’ve just returned from my seventh visit to Hungary in the last 17 months. This time as a speaker on the Main Stage at CPAC Hungary, an event organized by the Center for Fundamental Rights, alongside Yair Netanyahu and America First leader Alex Bruesewitz.
For too long, the U.S. foreign policy establishment prioritized globalist institutions and left-wing ideological activism over national security and common-sense diplomacy. The previous administration treated Hungary with suspicion and hostility simply because its leaders refused to bow to Brussels and the radical left’s worldview.
That approach failed. It weakened our alliances, emboldened our adversaries, and alienated one of our most dependable friends in Europe. It’s time to chart a new course, one rooted in respect, reciprocity, and reality. Hungary is a NATO ally, a strategic partner, and one of the last strongholds of Judeo-Christian values in continental Europe.
Under Prime Minister Viktor Orbán’s leadership, Hungary has become a beacon of sovereignty, border security, and traditional values in a continent increasingly dominated by unelected bureaucrats, mass migration, and failed multicultural experiments. While Western European capitals surrender to open borders and radical Islamism, Budapest stands firm. While others tear down their national identities, Hungary defends its heritage, and by doing so, it strengthens the West.
Hungary shares borders with Ukraine, Romania, Slovakia, Serbia, and Austria—making it one of the most geopolitically critical countries in Central Europe. It has hosted NATO forces, supported Western military coordination, and continues to invest in defense. Unlike many of its neighbors, Hungary is committed to meeting its NATO spending targets and strengthening its role in transatlantic security.
At a time when Europe faces instability on multiple fronts—from Russia/Ukraine war to Islamist radicalization, Hungary provides a stable, pro-Western anchor in a volatile region. We cannot afford to sideline or scold such an indispensable ally. The United States needs more allies like Hungary, not fewer.
Beyond defense, Hungary offers economic opportunities that are too often ignored. American businesses, especially those in tech, manufacturing, agriculture, and defense, would find Hungary a welcoming partner. The Hungarian government has streamlined regulations, kept taxes low, and remained committed to pro-growth, pro-family policies.
What we need now is a comprehensive bilateral strategy that strengthens trade ties, builds joint manufacturing capacity, and expands U.S.-Hungarian cooperation in critical sectors like energy security.
Let’s take it even further. The United States should prioritize direct investment in Hungarian startups, research institutions, and defense industries. Hungary’s strategic location and commitment to national resilience make it the ideal partner for reshoring essential supply chains and reducing our dependence on adversarial nations like China.
What ultimately binds our two nations is more than just strategy or economics. It’s our Judeo-Christian values.
Hungary respects life. It defends the family. It guards its borders. It affirms the role of faith in the public square. In short, Hungary still believes in the values that made the West great in the first place.
At a time when many Western democracies are abandoning their roots in favor of social engineering and moral relativism, Hungary is proudly charting a different course. That should not be cause for criticism, it should be a wake-up call for the West.
President Trump understood this. He respected Hungary’s right to govern itself without interference from unelected international bureaucrats. He cultivated a relationship with Hungary and PM Orban based on mutual respect and a shared vision for a strong, sovereign West.
Under President Trump’s leadership, we are ending the diplomatic cold shoulder. The new U.S. Ambassador to Hungary should be someone who respects Hungary’s leadership and is eager to deepen the alliance, not someone who lectures or agitates.
The fight for sovereignty, our civilization, and regional security isn’t theoretical, it’s happening right now, and Hungary is on the front lines. It’s time for America to show up, stand tall, and double down on this indispensable alliance. I know we will.
Bryan E. Leib is the Managing Director of Henry Public Relations. He is on X @BryanLeibFL.
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