US Seeks Eight Security Council Votes for Orbán UN Bid

A State Department representative has calculated that the United States has secured eight votes in the UN Security Council to support Viktor Orbán for secretary-general. Officials indicated that an additional ten votes out of the fifteen members could potentially be secured to ensure a comfortable majority for the former Hungarian prime minister.

The Trump administration did not merely endorse Orbán’s interest in the race. According to The Wall Street Journal, US officials proposed the idea to him directly. One American official described Orbán as the dream MAGA-conservative candidate for the post. The proposal leverages his historical opposition to mass migration, liberal non-governmental organizations, and left-leaning courts.

The strategy relies on aligning the United States with Russia and China. A State Department official acknowledged that the plan sounds unconventional but noted that previous discussions suggest both Moscow and Beijing support the concept. The goal is to present Orbán as a joint candidate for the three major powers. Officials from the US and another country emphasized that when Washington, Beijing, and Moscow pursue the same objective in the Security Council, they generally succeed.

Orbán is expected to be formally backed by President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance once he announces his candidacy. However, sources familiar with the process say the announcement is being delayed until after the US midterm elections. American officials have already contacted Orbán to gauge his interest and found him positively inclined, though he raised some caveats.

Supporters argue that Orbán brings a different profile to the race. A representative of a second country noted that other candidates are heavy on the secretary aspect, with backgrounds in international bureaucracy or behind-the-scenes diplomacy. In contrast, Orbán would be a general. A State Department representative agreed, stating that Orbán adheres to the correct ideology and knows how to exercise power under hostile conditions without being intimidated by the establishment.

The selection process occurs against a backdrop of calls for UN reform. Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez recently stressed the need to strengthen accountability mechanisms to stop governments that undermine international rules. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul have both called for removing the veto power in the Security Council. Wadephul specifically criticized the body’s inability to make decisions due to vetoes by individual members.

The Wall Street Journal notes that Orbán’s pro-China orientation has not undermined his image as a defender of Western civilization, despite frequent clashes with the European Union. He has benefited from EU subsidies while maintaining a firm stance on migration and governance issues.