Trump administration floats former Hungarian prime minister for UN secretary-general: Report
- Washington has encouraged Viktor Orban to enter race, with Russia and China said to be receptive to idea, The Wall Street Journal reports
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- Washington has encouraged Viktor Orban to enter race, with Russia and China said to be receptive to idea, The Wall Street Journal reports
By Gizem Nisa Demir
ISTANBUL (AA) - The Trump administration has encouraged former Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban to consider running for UN secretary-general, with Russia and China said to be receptive to the idea, The Wall Street Journal reported Sunday.
According to the newspaper, officials from three countries confirmed that Washington had raised Orban's potential candidacy, which could make him a joint candidate backed by the US, Russia and China. The proposal is awaiting a final decision.
A US State Department official acknowledged that the idea might initially sound far-fetched but argued that the three powers could secure sufficient support in the UN Security Council.
The official estimated that eight of the council's 15 members would "comfortably" support Orban, with 10 votes potentially within reach. Britain and France, both permanent members with veto power, could oppose the proposal, although the editorial noted that they have generally been cautious about using their vetoes.
The newspaper reported that Orban's name repeatedly surfaced in discussions among US, Chinese and Russian officials about potential candidates. According to the editorial, American officials eventually began asking "Why not Mr. Orban?"
The proposal reflects the Trump administration's ideological alignment with Orban, whom the editorial described as "the dream MAGA-conservative candidate." It cited his opposition to mass migration, liberal nongovernmental organizations and Hungary's left-leaning courts and media, as well as his frequent clashes with the European Union.
Despite his close alignment with China, Orban has maintained an image as a defender of Western civilization, the editorial said.
US President Donald Trump endorsed Orban in Hungary's April 2026 election, while Vice President JD Vance campaigned for him. A third source familiar with the process told the newspaper that both were expected to support Orban again if he entered the UN race, although an announcement was being held back until after the US midterm elections.
US officials initially contacted Orban to gauge his interest in the position. He was reportedly receptive but remained cautious, with the nationalist politician unwilling to run unless he believed he had a strong chance of winning. Orban declined to comment.
The editorial contrasted Orban with other potential candidates, describing the field as dominated by figures with international bureaucratic or diplomatic experience.
One official from another country characterized Orban as a "general" rather than a "secretary," a view shared by the US official, who argued that Orban possessed the ideological convictions and political resolve to challenge the UN establishment.
Lana Nusseibeh, a diplomat from the United Arab Emirates (UAE), entered the race the previous week.
The editorial said the UAE's alleged support for a paramilitary force involved in Sudan's civil war could weigh against her candidacy, although it described her as qualified and gaining momentum. Nusseibeh was scheduled to answer questions Tuesday, followed by a new Security Council straw poll Wednesday.
Additional candidates could still enter the contest.
Current UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres' term ends on Dec. 31, 2026. The editorial criticized his leadership and argued that Orban's potential candidacy would expose the extent of the institution's decline.
Gizem Nisa Çebi Demir