Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán warned Saturday that the world is “increasingly likely” to slide into a third world war, accusing the European Union of becoming a “war project” and pledging to keep Hungary out of foreign conflicts.
Speaking at the annual Tusványos summer festival in Romania’s Székely Land, Orbán used what he called the “closing speech” of his current government term to frame the stakes for Hungary’s 2026 elections, outline his geopolitical strategy, and deliver a cultural warning about Europe’s future.
“This is the closing speech of this term,” he told the crowd. “Next year I plan to open Tusványos with the first speech of our next government.”
Election Outlook and Domestic Issues
Orbán said internal polling showed his Fidesz party would win 80 of 106 single-member constituencies if the election were held today — a strong majority, though less than its 87-seat sweep in 2022. He contrasted his government’s stance — “the state has borders, but the nation does not” — with the opposition, accusing them of taking their cues from Brussels and ignoring ethnic Hungarians abroad.
He cited improving ties with Romania following a recent meeting with its new prime minister. He defended Hungary’s decision to ban an antisemitic, pro-terrorist rock band from entry, calling the country “an island of freedom and peace.”
Digital Mobilization
Orbán announced the launch of “digital civic circles” — online conservative communities aimed at countering what he called a hostile digital space dominated by the Left. “Now the hostile territory is the internet,” he said. “We must conquer our digital homeland.”
From Trump’s Win to War Warnings
The prime minister credited Donald Trump’s election victory with easing U.S. pressure on Hungary, lifting sanctions on its Paks nuclear plant, and attracting new investment. But, he said, the risk of global war remains.
Citing polls in major Western nations showing nearly half their citizens expect a world war within a decade, Orbán listed indicators he said match those seen before previous global conflicts: three nuclear superpowers locked in rivalry, a surge in armed conflicts, a rapid arms race, rising economic bloc formation, and record migration.
Hungary’s Five-Pillar Strategy
Orbán said avoiding war requires more than declarations. His plan:
- Maintain balanced relations with all major powers.
- Build a “precision army” backed by a domestic defense industry.
- Achieve self-sufficiency in arms, energy, food, and AI capability.
- Strengthen human capital through education and cultural cohesion.
- Keep NATO membership while engaging economically with the East.
Clash With Brussels
Orbán accused the EU of pushing for Russia’s defeat in Ukraine, preparing for confrontation with China, and replacing governments that resist. He called the bloc’s new seven-year budget a “war budget” that prioritizes Ukraine and military readiness over farmers and development. He said Brussels is withholding funds from Hungary in exchange for migration, energy, and child-protection concessions.
“We will bring our money home without concessions on sovereignty,” he vowed.
Migration and Demographic Warnings
Orbán said Central Europe has resisted mass migration that has turned parts of Western Europe into “irreversibly mixed societies,” citing Vienna, where Muslims now outnumber Christian schoolchildren. He predicted Muslim majorities in many Western cities within a decade and warned of an even larger wave from Africa.
He linked demographic change to cultural decline, saying the West lost its instinct for self-defense when it “severed the link between Christianity and the nation” — a shift he dates to the legalization of same-sex marriage. Hungary’s constitution, he stressed, recognises Christianity’s role in preserving nationhood.
Closing Message
Orbán closed with a call to the next generation: “Preserve what we have. Acquire what we do not yet have but need. Reject what we do not need.”
Framing the next decade as decisive, he said Hungary’s future as a sovereign Christian nation — and Europe’s ability to avoid another catastrophic war — will be determined by the choices made now.
