Botond Feledy

Brussels-based #ForeignPolicy and #EU expert, affectionate about the rabbithole of #Forecasting and #ThreatAssessment.

[Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Hungary @MFAHungary]

The government has decided to return the Hungarian Institute of International Affairs to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, where it will once again play a central role in the professional support of Hungarian foreign policy decisions. Botond Feledy will lead the Institute.

[Anita Orban @_OrbanAnita]

The tangible aspects of foreign policy and diplomacy often take the form of a summit or high-level negotiations. Behind these, however, lies a great deal of teamwork, preparation, analysis, and strategic thinking.

That is why the government has decided to return the Hungarian Institute of International Affairs to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, where it will once again play a central role in the professional support of Hungarian foreign policy decisions.

Previously, under the direction of the Prime Minister’s Office, the Institute’s operations have been increasingly shaped by day-to-day political expectations, instead of professional considerations. I would like the Institute to once again provide decision-makers with the highest possible standards of independent, professional expertise. We need analyses that clearly show where Hungary’s national interest lies, what tipping points in global politics we are facing, and how these will affect Hungary’s security, economy, and room for maneuver.

The Institute’s new leadership will be dedicated to this thorough, independent research and foresight. For this reason, I have asked the renowned foreign policy analyst Botond Feledy to take on the role of CEO and lead the Institute.

Hungarian foreign policy requires strong professional foundations, long-term thinking, and analyses that accurately grasp global trends. The task of the reorganized Institute of International Affairs is to strengthen the analytical and strategic perspective and to integrate it organically into foreign policy decision-making.

Foreign policy affects our security, our economy, our energy supplies, the Hungarian communities beyond our borders, and how Hungary is perceived around the world. This requires a broad perspective, comprehensive knowledge, and a cross-cutting approach that complements the Ministry’s day-to-day work.

We can effectively represent Hungarian interests by relying on the best possible information, analyses, and decisions.

That is why it is also important to foster more public debate, accessible analysis, and genuine dialogue on foreign policy—with economic actors, the press, academia, and civil society alike. We are building an institute that both supports the work of the government and engages the Hungarian society as well.

I am confident that, under the leadership of Botond Feledy, the Hungarian Institute of International Affairs will become one of the key hubs supporting the renewal of Hungarian foreign policy.

[Szabolcs Panyi @panyiszabolcs]

‼️Here's the result of Western allies letting Hungary increase dependency on Russian energy without limitations. As we reported, the number of Russian citizens building Rosatom's nuclear power plant in Hungary is set to increase from 400 to 1,000 by 2025: https://t.co/Xe29WpS04C

[The Kyiv Independent @KyivIndependent]

All Kinzhal ballistic missiles fired by Russia at targets in Kyiv have been downed since the U.S. provided Patriot air defense systems in May 2023, Ukrainian Air Force Colonel Serhii Yaremenko said in an interview with Ukrinform published on July 4.

[Igor Merheim-Eyre @MerheimEyre]

For nearly a decade the disinfo war in Slovakia focused mainly on pro-Russian media & we ignored the role of Orban’s media in peddling its narratives in southern Slovakia. They played their role in the election of Fico, Pelegrini, & they continue to play their divisive role

[Daniel Szeligowski @dszeligowski]

🧵 Over the past three decades, the transatlantic community has paid much more attention to Russia than to anyone else. Far too much. The world does not revolve around Russia, and we should finally stop acting as if Russia was the centre of the universe

[Szabolcs Panyi @panyiszabolcs]

✅ Confirmed by @hvg_hu: Viktor Orbán's new strategic advisory board was informally established today with the participation of the same people that I tweeted about. HVG's article in Hungarian: https://t.co/kQit0e9aEI

[Mick Ryan, AM @WarintheFuture]

I recently shared this post from @visegrad24 but wanted to expand a little more on the implications of such ground-based uncrewed systems for contemporary and future land warfare. 1/25 🧵 🇺🇦

[Timothy Snyder @TimothyDSnyder]

6/6 I was thinking of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth. What were you thinking of?

[Szabolcs Panyi @panyiszabolcs]

💥Scoop: Visegrád Four Group (🇨🇿🇭🇺🇵🇱🇸🇰) prime ministers are planned to meet in Prague on February 27, government and foreign policy expert sources from multiple V4 countries tell me. It hasn't been announced officially and there's still some uncertainty hence I'm careful with the phrasing. But it's very likely.

🇨🇿PM Petr Fiala previously hinted that such a meeting can only happen if Hungary supported both the EU's financial aid for Ukraine and the 🇸🇪 NATO accession.

Since the Hungarian parliament will convene on February 26 to start its spring session, ideally, Viktor Orbán would travel to Prague already after the parliament's confirmation vote. On Sunday, he actually promised that there will be a vote very soon – however, he made similar promises multiple times without delivering.

🍿Prepare your popcorns for the Orbán-Donald Tusk joint presser. (If the meeting is canceled last minute at least you would still have your popcorn.)

📨For more details and scoops from Central Europe, subscribe to @VSquare_Project's Goulash newsletter: https://t.co/cc27pmOxko

📭Previous newsletter issues: https://t.co/s22CZho2Z3

[Lili Bayer @liliebayer]

Rutte's NATO candidacy is getting interesting.

More updates from Munich on the live blog:
https://t.co/GEVkE7LN6K

[Szabolcs Panyi @panyiszabolcs]

‼️🚫Orbán’s MPs didn’t show up in Hungary’s parliament to vote on 🇸🇪’s NATO accession - no quorum, no vote.

Orbán promised to @jensstoltenberg there’d be a vote ASAP.

He didn’t keep his word.

Meanwhile, ambassadors of NATO allies 🇺🇸🇳🇱🇸🇰🇳🇴🇩🇰 🇪🇪 were present, @Telexhu reports.

[Ragıp Soylu @ragipsoylu]

NEW: Turkish Parliament to ratify Sweden’s Nato bid later this week, possibly on Tuesday, sources tell me.

[Special Kherson Cat 🐈🇺🇦 @bayraktar_1love]

Absolutely masterful destruction of the Russian T-72 obr.2022 by Ukrainian FPV drone operator. Krynky Kherson region. Video by the “Birds of Magyar” unit.
https://t.co/hKt7Vk1ZTT

[Special Kherson Cat 🐈🇺🇦 @bayraktar_1love]

/1. Feodosia, Crimea. Strike in the port area. Sounds of explosions and presumably air defence activity is reported.

[DG MEME 🇪🇺 @meme_ec]

When you tell your contractor you need that feature quickly. #InvoiceActually

[Szabolcs Panyi @panyiszabolcs]

"The Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) said on Dec. 2 that it had requested Ukraine's parliament cancel the permission of lawmaker and ex-President Petro Poroshenko to exit the country due to a planned meeting with Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban.

The meeting would be used by Russian propaganda, the SBU said, making Poroshenko a "tool in the hands of the Russian special services."

Since the start of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Hungary has repeatedly obstructed EU fundsfor Kyiv while opposing sanctions against Russia.

Orban, who maintains close ties with the Kremlin, has refused to provide military aid to Ukraine, and said he would not support Ukraine's accession into the EU.

Poroshenko said on Dec. 1 that border guards prevented him from leaving the country even though he had previously received an official permission."

@KyivIndependent

[Botond Feledy @botidoki]

Check out my latest article. Weekly Filter: Fate of Statesmen https://t.co/wK88wekenz

[NY AG James @NewYorkStateAG]

Donald Trump lied about his net worth on his statements of financial condition to get loans for much better terms than he should have.

It's that simple.