US Weighs Orbán Bid for UN Secretary-General, Seeking Russian and Chinese Backing

The Trump administration has approached former Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán about running for United Nations secretary-general and is counting on support from Russia and China, the Wall Street Journal reported on October 26, citing sources.

The campaign begins from a specific count. A State Department representative said eight votes on the 15-member Security Council would back Orbán comfortably, with 10 more potentially available. Officials from the U.S. and another country said that when the United States, Russia and China pursue the same goal at the Security Council, they generally achieve it. A source familiar with the process said Orbán is positively inclined toward a candidacy, though with caveats.

Washington did more than encourage Orbán to enter the race; it put the idea to him first. A State Department official under the Trump administration conceded the plan sounds unusual at first glance. Another American official called Orbán "the dream MAGA-conservative candidate," a judgment the Journal attributed to Orbán's actions against mass migration, liberal NGOs, left-leaning courts and the press. The same official said Orbán adheres to the correct ideology, knows how to exercise power under hostile conditions and will not be intimidated by the establishment.

If Orbán formally enters the contest, President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance are expected to support him again, though a source familiar with the process said the announcement is being held back until after the U.S. midterm elections. A representative for a second country said remaining candidates for the post have backgrounds heavy on international bureaucracy or behind-the-scenes diplomacy, while Orbán would be a "general." The Journal noted that Orbán's pro-China orientation did not undermine his image as a defender of Western civilisation, and that he frequently clashed with the European Union while benefiting from its subsidies.

The secretary-general appointment requires Security Council nomination and General Assembly election, and the five permanent Council members hold veto power. Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez has recently called for UN reform and stronger accountability mechanisms, and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has called for removing the veto. In spring, German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul criticised the Security Council for failing to reach decisions because of vetoes by individual members.

Washington has contacted Orbán to gauge his interest, and the Journal reported the administration expects Russian and Chinese support for Orbán as their joint candidate.