GZERO World Clips

Highlights from the GZERO World with Ian Bremmer weekly television show.

When Americans think of Viktor Orbán, they picture a Trump ally. But according to political analyst Ivan Krastev, that misses the bigger picture. "The major bet of the Hungarian government is China," Krastev tells Ian Bremmer, and the numbers bear it out: Chinese investment in Hungary now exceeds Chinese investment in Germany and France combined. Beijing's interest isn't in Hungary's size or seaport access: it's in Orbán's willingness to veto any EU anti-China economic policy.

Russia plays a different role, but one equally central to Orbán's political identity. The Hungarian leader built his career demanding Soviet troops leave his country in 1989, yet he has since made dependence on Russian oil and gas a cornerstone of what he frames as Hungarian sovereignty. For Orbán, Brussels, not Moscow, is the existential threat.

The result is a political model built on triangulation: lean on China, accommodate Russia, and position himself as the only truly sovereign leader in the EU. Krastev notes that this carefully constructed story may now be unraveling ahead of Hungary's April 12th elections.

brussels beijing orban asia us-canada china russia ivan krastev russia-ukraine europe

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About the Show

Every week on GZERO World with Ian Bremmer, Ian explains the key global stories of the moment, sits down for an in-depth conversation with the newsmakers and thought leaders shaping our world.

Watch GZERO World on US public television and on GZERO's YouTube channel. GZERO WORLD with Ian Bremmer is a local public television program presented by THIRTEEN PBS.

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