CPAC Hungary last month marked the third consecutive conservative jamboree on European soil. The successful and transformative event is a product of Hungarian conservative political innovation and U.S. Republican traditions. This blend also serves as a powerful recipe for closer cooperation between the two countries when former President Donald Trump hopefully takes back the Oval Office in January.
Led by Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, the Hungarian Right, although smaller in size than the Republican political community, has gained precious political know-how in recent years. And this has served as a source of inspiration and wisdom for other conservative political movements in how to build Right-wing connectivity globally.
The cooperation between the Hungarian Right and American Right proved fruitful during President Trump's first term and has grown from strength to strength over the past years. We have the same values and stand for similar policies. God, homeland, and family are the fundamental values all conservatives instinctively share because they serve as the cornerstones for our societies and a loadstar for all our efforts. This is what binds us together: real America, real Hungary, and real patriots the world over. Our political communities want the same: to put our own country first. America First. Hungary First.
These shared values translate into similar policies on the practical level. For instance, Hungary's comprehensive pro-family program serves as a source of inspiration for American decision-makers. The defense of our own southern border is proof positive that illegal immigration can be stopped if there is political will. Like American conservatives, we have taken the admonition of former Presidents Ronald Reagan and Donald Trump to heart: no borders, no nation. We must protect our borders at all costs. Hungary has also created a business-friendly, workfare environment with low taxes. It's no wonder that over 1,700 American companies are present in our country.
Speaking of adaptation: President Trump has been right to adopt peace through strength. We must build up NATO as a defense alliance and member states should absolutely pay their fair share. The Alliance is not some mythical "cavalry" that comes to anyone's rescue. It is a collaboration of free stakeholders in shared security. Hungary is among the 11 NATO members that reached the 2 percent GDP spending target and are willing to modernize their military. NATO should stand for peace, prosperity, and security, not reckless adventurism. War with Russia is to be avoided. The Hungarians know well that Russian President Vladimir Putin would not have invaded our neighbor Ukraine had President Trump been in office.
And during the Trump presidency, Hungary was the first European Union (EU) country to open a diplomatic representation in Jerusalem and was the only EU member state to be represented at the signing ceremony of the Abraham Accords. Hungary has offered a consistent and loyal voice in support of Israel in the U.N. and the EU in the face of increasing pressure from the woke Left. Following the vicious terror attack on Oct. 7, Hungary offered our unwavering sympathy for the Jewish State in her defensive war against Hamas. Hungarian authorities rightfully have banned all pro-terror demonstrations in the country.
Today, sovereigntists are the true democrats, who represent the will of the people. Both in the swamps of Washington and Brussels, unelected officials of the deep state act against the most basic interests of the people and ignore their legitimate grievances. The global establishment pledges allegiance to NGOs, legitimizes political corruption, uses courts for political witch-hunts, and promotes mere human desires as "universal values." Two leaders on both sides of the Atlantic, President Trump and Prime Minister Orbán, can put an end to this. They put their country and their people first. MAGA and MEGA: Make America and Make Europe Great Again.
A flourishing U.S.-Hungary relationship, under President Trump, can serve as the seed from which a Western revival can blossom.
Miklós Szánthó is director general of the Center for Fundamental Rights and chair of CPAC Hungary.
The views expressed in this article are the writer's own.
Uncommon Knowledge
Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
