Can Egotists Be Friends? The Orbán-Trump Connection and the Ukraine crisis
Schedule
Thu, 03 Apr, 2025 at 12:15 pm
UTC+02:00Location
Pázmány Péter sétány 1/A, 2.61, 1117 | Budapest, BU
Advertisement
Donald Trump did not have particularly strong ties to Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán in his first presidential term, but in recent years, they got considerably closer, even to the extent of interfering with the domestic processes of each other’s country. Orbán – practically alone among officeholders in the EU – endorsed Trump’s 2024 re-election bid; in response, he was invited to Mar-a-Lago, while the two politicians’ statements were aligned on many issues, most prominently on the war in Ukraine, despite their divergent views on China. Orbán openly proclaimed that his “Hungary First” foreign policy follows Trump’s “America First” and both leaders heavily criticized the existing institutions of the liberal international order. Trump and Orbán have called each other "friends" multiple times, but can we indeed talk about "friendship" between actors who emphasize so much their self-centered understanding of world politics? If so, what is the basis of this "friendship"? The paper builds on recent research on friendship in International Relations, and locates the connections between the two leaders' discourses as more of an example for strategic alliance, though still built on a shared pronouncedly antiliberal vision of order.A seminar and discussion led by Áron Tábor.
Time: 3rd April, 12:15
Location: Room 2.61
Advertisement
Where is it happening?
Pázmány Péter sétány 1/A, 2.61, 1117, Pázmány Péter sétány 1a, Budapest 1117, Magyarország,Budapest, HungaryEvent Location & Nearby Stays:
