Washington Floats Orban as Joint UN Candidate Backed by P5 Powers

US President Donald Trump is actively promoting former Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban for the United Nations secretary-general position, according to sources from three nations. American officials have contacted Orban to encourage him to run. He has expressed interest but has not yet finalized his decision. The push positions him as a potential joint candidate backed by the United States, Russia, and China.

The initiative stems from internal discussions among Washington, Moscow, and Beijing. These three permanent members of the Security Council reportedly agreed that Orban fits their shared preferences for the next leader. When these powers align, they can usually secure the desired outcome at the council. US State Department officials acknowledged the concept initially seemed unlikely but argued Orban could build a strong coalition.

One US official projected that eight of the council's 15 members would easily support Orban. The estimate suggested he might reach as many as 10 votes. The report did not cite public commitments from any specific country regarding this tally. The positions of the United Kingdom and France remain uncertain. Both are permanent members with veto power, though the report suggested they might not block a candidate with majority support.

Orban’s name surfaced repeatedly during US planning sessions. Officials described the ideal candidate as someone like Orban, a view shared by their Chinese and Russian counterparts. Orban showed receptiveness but raised concerns about his identity as a nationalist politician. He reportedly prefers to announce a bid only when confident of winning. He declined to comment on the recent reports.

A State Department official labeled Orban the dream candidate for MAGA conservatives. This assessment referenced his opposition to large-scale immigration, liberal nongovernmental organizations, and established Hungarian judicial and media centers. Orban clashed with the European Union while strengthening ties with China during his tenure. Trump endorsed him in Hungary's April elections, and Vice President JD Vance campaigned on his behalf.

Sources indicate Trump and Vance will support Orban if he runs. Any formal announcement would likely wait until after the US midterm elections. Another official contrasted Orban with current candidates, who are mostly diplomats or bureaucrats. Orban would bring the style of a political leader accustomed to wielding power. The US official noted Orban has the right ideological outlook and would not be intimidated by the UN establishment.

The report noted concerns that Orban could defend Russian President Vladimir Putin and other authoritarian leaders. His ties to Moscow and Beijing, along with his record in Hungary, would face scrutiny. Emirati diplomat Lana Nusseibeh is a declared candidate who entered the race last week. She is expected to answer questions on Tuesday, ahead of a Security Council straw poll on Wednesday. Antonio Guterres's term ends on December 31, and no official announcement of an Orban bid has been made.