Hungary's Prime Minister, Viktor Orban, throws his weight behind former U.S. President Donald Trump's potential return to the White House, following a meeting in Florida on Friday.

The encounter, which touched on various bilateral issues, underscored their shared emphasis on robust border security as integral to safeguarding national sovereignty.

Orban's alignment with Trump stands in contrast to the stance of many European Union counterparts, particularly evident in his reluctance to arm Kyiv and his continued economic engagement with Moscow post-Russia's 2022 invasion of Ukraine. Orban's vocal endorsement of Trump's candidacy reflects his belief that only Trump's leadership can usher in stability for Ukraine.

Expressing admiration for Trump's leadership, particularly on immigration and family support initiatives, Orban extolled the virtues of Trump's presidency, citing periods of relative peace in the Middle East and Ukraine during Trump's tenure. Trump reciprocated the praise, hailing Orban as a respected global leader and lauding Hungary's secure immigration policies under his stewardship.

However, Orban's tenure has been marred by clashes with the EU over his anti-immigration campaigns and perceived erosion of democratic principles through increased state control over the judiciary, NGOs, and media. Despite his vocal opposition to EU sanctions against Russia, Orban has ultimately complied, albeit reluctantly, and delayed EU assistance to Ukraine until earlier this year. Photo by European People's Party, Wikimedia commons.