US Administration Promotes Viktor Orban for Next UN Secretary-General
The US administration is reportedly promoting former Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban for UN Secretary-General, potentially backed by Russia and China as Antonio Guterres's term ends.
The administration of US President Donald Trump is reportedly promoting a surprising initiative to position former Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban as the next Secretary-General of the United Nations, with potential backing from Russia and China. According to reports citing sources from all three nations, Washington officials have approached Orban and encouraged him to run for the prestigious global post.
While the plan has not yet been finalized, diplomats familiar with the discussions suggest that securing a consensus among the three superpowers is feasible. A US State Department official acknowledged that the proposal might initially sound far-fetched, yet internal assessments indicate that Moscow and Beijing could endorse Orban as a mutually acceptable candidate.
US officials and representatives from other participating states noted that when Washington, Moscow, and Beijing align on a candidate within the UN Security Council, the prospects for successful election increase significantly. Orban, who lost the Hungarian general election last April after sixteen consecutive years in power, remains one of Trump's most prominent European allies. Throughout his tenure, he pursued a nationalist and conservative agenda, frequently clashed with European Union institutions, and maintained close ties with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
The potential nomination has drawn intense international scrutiny due to Orban's critical stance on global governance and European migration policies. Meanwhile, the term of current UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres concludes on December 31 after a decade in office. Other prominent contenders include Rafael Grossi, Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency, and Rebeca Grynspan. Under UN rules, the Security Council recommends a candidate for the General Assembly's approval, requiring delicate navigation among the five permanent veto-wielding members.
