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Former President Donald Trump is scheduled to meet Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban in Florida on Thursday, just days after Orban's meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow. This visit is expected to raise concerns that Orban might be acting as a mediator between Putin and Trump. The meeting will take place at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago resort after the conclusion of the NATO summit in Washington.

 

Trump and Putin had a notably cordial relationship during Trump’s presidency, often drawing bipartisan criticism. Recently, Trump has claimed that if re-elected, he could persuade Putin to end the war in Ukraine and release Americans detained in Russia. Despite these assertions, one source familiar with the upcoming Orban visit, speaking anonymously, stated that Trump has not requested the Hungarian leader to prepare for any potential Ukraine-Russia peace negotiations.

 

Orban's visit to Moscow was a significant topic of discussion at the NATO summit, where allies pledged additional air defenses for Ukraine in its ongoing battle against the Russian invasion that started in 2022. NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg clarified on CBS News's "Face the Nation" that Orban did not visit Moscow on behalf of NATO, acknowledging that different NATO allies engage with Moscow in various ways.

 

In addition to his recent meeting with Putin, Orban also visited Chinese President Xi Jinping and traveled to Azerbaijan earlier this month. These diplomatic activities have drawn criticism from European Union officials, who argue that Orban’s actions could undermine the EU's unified stance on global issues. Hungary assumed the EU's rotating presidency on July 1, amplifying the significance of Orban's international engagements.

 

Trump and Orban have developed a close relationship over the years. In March, Orban visited Mar-a-Lago, where Trump hosted him with a tour of his residence, a dinner with former First Lady Melania Trump, an hour-long meeting with senior aides, and a musical performance by a band covering Roy Orbison songs. This camaraderie has been a point of contention for President Joe Biden, who, at a political rally in Philadelphia, criticized Orban for his authoritarian tendencies, stating that Orban "doesn’t think democracy works" and was "looking for dictatorship."

 

The Biden administration has been vocal in its criticism of Orban, particularly regarding his friendly relations with Putin and recent Hungarian legislation that the State Department warned could "intimidate and punish" critics of Orban’s government. Trump’s campaign spokespeople and representatives for the Hungarian government have not yet commented on the upcoming meeting.

 

As Orban prepares for his visit to Florida, the political implications of his meetings with both Putin and Trump are likely to be closely scrutinized by international observers and political analysts. The visit underscores the complex dynamics of global diplomacy and the varying approaches different leaders take in engaging with contentious geopolitical issues.

 

Credit: Bloomberg 2024-07-12

 

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