Orbán’s Washington play: siding with Trump, challenging Brussels
Orbán’s White House visit secured Hungary’s US sanctions exemptions and imply the start of a golden era in bilateral ties.
Orbán’s White House visit secured Hungary’s US sanctions exemptions and imply the start of a golden era in bilateral ties.
Romanian and NATO leaders held talks focusing on strengthening Romania’s security amid ongoing regional tensions.
Andrej Babiš’s ANO movement returns to power in coalition with nationalist allies, promising social protection, lower energy prices, and a tougher stance toward Brussels.
Romanian PM Ilie Bolojan warned that peace is no longer guaranteed, stressing that ensuring security is a shared responsibility of society.
As the EU tightens sanctions on Russia, Central European states display contrasting political stances rooted in their priorities and capacities.
A fire broke out last Monday night at MOL Group’s Danube Refinery in Százhalombatta, damaging one of the largest of its three distillation towers. The incident can have significant impact on regional oil supply and prices.
Von der Leyen's visits to frontline NATO states aims to deliver a message of solidarity while boosting Europe’s defence capacity, promoting joint procurement and galvanising industrial support through the EU’s SAFE mechanism.
Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda described Ruginiene as “a constructive negotiator who seeks compromise”, adding that foreign policy continuity, especially support for Ukraine, would be maintained. Nauseda signed a decree on 27 August formally appointing her.
The alliance’s biggest spenders are all on the Eastern flank and neighbouring Russia, with Poland leading the pack (4.48%) ahead of Lithuania (4.0%), Latvia (3.73%), and Estonia (3.38%). The US is sixth at 3.22% of GDP.
Fico’s Moscow visit and rhetoric at the recent commemoration have deepened tensions with Brussels over his approach to Russia. The forthcoming Beijing trip highlights his efforts to expand ties with China.
Ukrainian drones have struck at least 10 key Russian energy facilities this month alone, according to US news channel CNN. Attacks on 12, 17 and 21-22 August all targeted Druzhba's same pipeline’s southern leg.
Polish Energy Minister Milosz Motyka confirmed KHNP’s withdrawal but downplayed speculation of a diplomatic rift. “KHNP’s decision does not stem from any government actions and pertains to several European countries,” Motyka posted on X on 20 August.
Dodik, once seen as a moderate reformer, has shifted over two decades into a hardline nationalist who consistently tests BiH's post-war settlement.
RB is the largest infrastructure project in the Baltics since independence, designed to connect Tallinn, north Estonia, Riga, north Latvia, and Vilnius, south-east Lithuania, to the European standard-gauge network. The railway has also been described as a NATO corridor.
Having spent big on defence, Poland's growing role as a European player is at risk from political infighting, resource strain, and public fatigue.