A generation ago, Hungarians turned out en masse in their capital of Budapest to joyfully shed the grip of the Soviet Union. It was common at the time to hear people say Moscow’s domination had denied Hungary its rightful place at the heart of European life and politics.
One young anti-communist agitator, Viktor Orban, was among those celebrating. But fast forward to today: Budapest, with Orban now prime minister, is preparing to fete Chinese Communist leader Xi Jinping during a state visit. More broadly, Hungary has emerged—in the view of Washington and Brussels—as the biggest troublemaker inside NATO, with moves such as opposing sanctions against Russia for its war on Ukraine and delaying Sweden’s entry into the Atlantic alliance.
