Hungary’s Foreign Policy in a Changing International Environment

The Polish Institute of International Affairs is an analytical institution established by an act of Parliament in 1996 to carry out research and provide expertise in international affairs. PISM disseminates information on contemporary international issues and maintains contacts with academic and political centres in Poland and abroad. The Institute runs courses for public servants, maintains a library (open to the public; 165,000 books and journals), organises conferences, and publishes books, periodicals and documents on Polish foreign policy and international matters.

The funding for PISM comes from the budget. The director is appointed by the prime minister for a term of five years, following consultation with the minister of foreign affairs. The minister supervises the Institute and appoints its advisory council, which includes a representative of the President of the Republic of Poland, academics and officials.Hungarian authorities saw Donald Trump’s presidency as confirmation that the overall international situation was evolving in a direction it foresaw. That might result in Hungary increasing its foreign policy activity, although its interests and Poland’s would increasingly differ. Prime Minister Viktor Orbán’s vision of the EU was of a bloc based on the French-German tandem and independent military capabilities. Further, the Visegrad Group would constitute one of several economically competing European regions. Orbán also expected the U.S. to try to normalise relations with Russia and aimed for Hungary to take a leading role in shaping EU policy towards its eastern neighbour.