As the NATO summit in Washington wrapped up on Thursda, Hungary's Prime Minister Viktor Orban, a staunch nationalist, flew to Florida for talks with ex-US President Donald Trump. At the same time, current US President Joe Biden held a media briefing to project authority to his supporters, but his performance was undermined by several gaffes.
Orban's meeting with Trump at Mar-a-Lago is expected to further strain relations with Hungary's allies, coming on the heels of Orban's controversial encounter with Russian President Vladimir Putin last week, which drew widespread criticism from European leaders.
The right-leaning Hungarian Prime Minister, who currently holds the rotating presidency of the European Union, has been an outspoken advocate for Trump. Their previous meeting occurred in March, and Trump is now vying for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination.
Following Thursday's rendezvous, Orban shared on social media, "We explored avenues for achieving peace. The day's highlight: he's committed to resolving the situation!" The post was accompanied by an image of the two leaders in conversation.
The post did not elaborate further.
Trump reciprocated on his Truth Social platform, stating: "Gratitude, Viktor. PEACE is imperative, and urgently so. This conflict, which should never have begun, has claimed far too many lives!"
Orban recently stirred controversy within the EU by traveling to Moscow for discussions with Putin. The Hungarian leader characterized this visit as a "peace mission" regarding the Ukraine conflict, a move that followed his earlier trip to Kyiv for talks with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.
The EU, comprising 27 member states, has consistently denounced Russia's invasion of Ukraine and implemented unprecedented sanctions against Moscow.
At the NATO summit in Washington, Orban appeared marginalized, maintaining a notably low profile with minimal media engagement.
'No mandate"
At the NATO summit, Finnish President Alexander Stubb stated, "Viktor Orban lacks authorization from either the alliance or the European Union to engage in any negotiations. He may act independently, but I fundamentally oppose such action and fail to see its purpose."
US President Joe Biden, Trump's likely opponent in November, addressed reporters Thursday, saying, "I currently see no valid reason to engage with Putin. He shows little willingness to modify his behavior."
Orban, echoing Trump's stance, has expressed reservations about NATO's support for Ukraine and refuses to supply Kyiv with weapons, arguing it would escalate the conflict.
The Hungarian leader's meeting with Trump, a vocal critic of the US's central role in NATO, followed Biden's efforts to rally the alliance at the Washington summit.
Biden also aimed to reassure NATO allies and US voters about his leadership capabilities and fitness for office, following a poorly received televised debate performance against Trump last month that reignited age-related concerns.
During a highly anticipated press conference at the NATO summit, Biden acknowledged the need to "address concerns" among Democrats but affirmed his determination to remain in office.
Biden's attempt to project leadership was compromised by two verbal missteps. Earlier in the day, he mistakenly introduced Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky as Russian President Vladimir Putin. Later, during the news conference, he referred to Vice President Kamala Harris as "Vice President Trump." These gaffes undermined his efforts to convey a sense of control and competence.
(With newswires)
