Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban has identified China, India, Pakistan, and Indonesia as future global powers, predicting a significant shift in global dominance towards Asia and Russia in the coming decades.
“Over the coming decades, possibly centuries, Asia will become the dominant center of the world,” Orban declared during a speech. He foresees a transition in global power from the “irrational” West to Asia and Russia, suggesting a profound change in the world’s geopolitical landscape.
In a televised speech to ethnic Hungarians at a festival in Baile Tusnad, Romania, Orban stated, “We Westerners also pushed the Russians into this bloc.” He characterized Russia’s leadership as “hyper rational” and expressed skepticism about Ukraine’s potential to join the European Union or NATO.
Orban, who has been in power since 2010 and is known for his nationalist stance, currently holds the rotating EU presidency. He has diverged from the rest of the European bloc by nurturing closer ties with Beijing and Moscow. This month, his visits to Kyiv, Moscow, and Beijing for discussions on the war in Ukraine have caused frustration among some EU leaders.
Contrasting the perceived “weakness” of the West, Orban praised Russia’s rational and predictable approach to global affairs. He highlighted Russia’s economic resilience and adaptability to Western sanctions since the 2014 annexation of Crimea.
Orban reiterated his belief that Ukraine would never become a member of the EU or NATO, asserting, “we Europeans do not have enough money for that.” He urged the EU to abandon its political aspirations and instead focus on economic and defense initiatives.
Despite Orban’s views, the EU has recently initiated membership talks with Ukraine, though the country faces a long and challenging path to joining the bloc. At the recent NATO summit, a declaration affirmed the alliance’s support for Ukraine on its “irreversible path” to membership.
