The South Caucasus attracts attention as an important geography where geopolitical balances are constantly changing and the influence of great powers is felt. In this context, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán’s recent visit to Georgia has added a new dimension to the long-standing political and economic tensions in the region. The debates following the parliamentary elections in Georgia have deepened with criticism from the West regarding the transparency and legitimacy of the elections. While European Union (EU) member states have directed serious criticism against the Georgian government, Orbán’s support for the Georgian Dream government by defending the elections has reignited discussions questioning Hungary’s political stance both within the EU and in the region.
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán’s visit to Georgia stood out as an important diplomatic move that has the potential to create deeper cracks within the EU by providing open support to the Georgian Dream government, which was subjected to harsh criticism from the West after the election. The timing and content of Orbán’s visit attracted attention as a strong support for the Georgian government despite criticism from the West. Hungary, a member of the EU and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), not only weakened the EU’s stance on common foreign policy and democratic reforms with this visit, but also created a serious tension in Georgia’s relations with the West. Orbán’s early victory congratulations to the Georgian Dream government revealed his anti-Western attitude and Hungary’s strategic calculations in the South Caucasus. This support is considered as a step that may have complex long-term effects on Georgia’s relationship with the West and change the balance in international relations.[1]
Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson’s criticism of Orbán’s visit to Georgia turned into a diplomatic tension when he summoned Hungary’s Ambassador to Sweden. While Kristersson described Orbán’s visit as “representing Russia”, Hungary reacted strongly to these criticisms. Orbán’s description of the elections in Georgia as “fair and democratic” and Hungary’s disregard for Western criticism of the elections created discomfort among its other partners within the EU and NATO.
While Georgian opposition parties claimed that the elections were fraudulent, prosecutors announced that they were investigating these allegations. However, in his statements in Georgia, Orbán defended that the election process took place in a democratic manner and stood by the Georgian Dream government against the criticism of the West. The Swedish Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed the meeting in Hungary and emphasized the importance of continuing bilateral relations. This tension has reignited discussions questioning Hungary’s position in the Western alliance and has once again revealed how Orbán’s foreign policy is perceived by the international community.[2]
The European Commission’s enlargement report has revealed the significant challenges Georgia faces in its relations with the EU. EU Ambassador to Georgia Pawel Herczyński stated that the Georgian government is insufficient to fulfill its commitments to democratic reforms and European criteria. It has been claimed that the lack of transparency in the electoral process and the failure to withdraw laws regarding the transparency of foreign influences have hindered Georgia’s efforts to comply with EU standards. Herczyński underlined that democratic principles and the rule of law are the basic criteria in the EU enlargement process, and reminded that Georgia’s progress directly depends on democratic values. Hungary, on the other hand, continues to remain insensitive to these criticisms in response to the Georgian Dream, with the support of Orbán and his government. This situation makes Hungary’s position in Georgia controversial and isolated within the EU.[3]
Hungarian Minister of Foreign Affairs Péter Szijjártó announced that they support projects of strategic importance in terms of energy security in the South Caucasus. Describing the Black Sea submarine cable project developed between Azerbaijan, Georgia, Romania and Hungary as a “game changer”, Szijjártó emphasized that this initiative is a key step that will ensure the transfer of green energy to Europe. Stating that the project has a great potential in terms of green transformation and energy diversification, Szijjártó stated that Hungary has deepened its cooperation with Georgia to increase energy security in the region. Drawing attention to Wizz Air’s leading role in economic relations in Georgia, Szijjártó stated that the airline is the market leader in the civil aviation sector and this strengthens the economic ties between the two countries. Praising Georgia’s economic growth, Szijjártó evaluated the low budget deficit and high growth rate as a “remarkable” development.[4]
In Hungary’s South Caucasus policy, political support as well as economic cooperation attract attention. While Szijjártó described Brussels’ decision to freeze Georgia’s integration process as “political and shameful”, he claimed that the EU wanted to see a different government in Georgia. Stating that Georgia has the potential to contribute to the EU, Szijjártó argued that Western countries’ criticism of the elections harmed Georgia’s development and integration process. The Investment Protection Agreement, signed in Budapest in July, provided a legal framework for Hungarian companies to invest in Georgia and aimed to further deepen economic relations between the two countries. Hungary continues to cooperate with Georgia in areas such as tourism, infrastructure and water management.[5]
Orbán’s praise for Georgia’s avoidance of becoming a “second Ukraine” at the press conference he held with Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze in Tbilisi reflects Hungary’s aim to maintain the geopolitical balance in the region. Orbán congratulated the Georgian people for choosing the path of peace and the EU, and stated that he supported Georgia’s determination to avoid the devastating effects of war. Describing Georgia and Hungary as “fighters for freedom and sovereignty”, Orbán said that Western discussions about the election results should not be taken seriously. While the Georgian opposition did not accept the election results and threatened to boycott the parliament, President Salome Zurabishvili described the elections as fraudulent and accused Russia of intervention. Despite this, Orbán’s support for the Georgian Dream government emerges as a strategy to strengthen Hungary’s position in Georgia.[6]
Hungary-Georgia relations show that the Budapest government led by Viktor Orbán is pursuing an independent strategy that contradicts the main EU policies and prioritizes its own national interests. Orbán’s open support for the Georgian Dream government during his visit to Georgia reveals that Hungary takes a different position from the EU and pursues its own geopolitical and economic interests in the South Caucasus. This support came to the fore with Hungary’s effort to strengthen its relations with Georgia, despite the criticism from the West, especially after the elections.
This policy of Hungary demonstrates an approach that prioritizes energy security and economic cooperation. Budapest, which aims to increase its influence in the region with strategic initiatives such as the Black Sea submarine cable project, sees Georgia as an important partner in energy transfer. The Orbán government continues to support Georgia as a strategic partner while being critical of the EU’s emphasis on democratic reforms.
This attitude of Hungary shows that the EU is moving away from expansion policies and towards a more pragmatic and national interest-oriented line. While this agreement has the potential to maintain Brussels’ democratic standards, it also maintains the geopolitical balances in the region. Hungary’s independent action in the South Caucasus both deepens the cracks within the EU and reduces the violence in these regions of the West.
* Tashih: Dr. Cenk TAMER, Geliş Tarihi: 31.11.2024, 12.47, Teslim Tarihi: 02.11.2024, 11.24.
[1] “Amid EU censure, Orbán plans Georgia visit to celebrate contested vote”, Politico, https://www.politico.eu/article/viktor-orban-georgia-government-eu-investigation-hungary-josep-borrell/, (Date of Access: 31.10.2024).
[2] “Hungary summons Swedish envoy over criticism of PM Orban’s visit to Georgia”, Reuters, https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/hungary-summons-swedish-envoy-over-criticism-pm-orbans-visit-georgia-2024-10-30/, (Date of Access: 31.10.2024).
[3] “EU Ambassador on bloc enlargement report: future of EU-Georgia relations ‘now in hands of Georgian Gov’t’”, Agenda.Ge, https://agenda.ge/en/news/2024/41376, (Date of Access: 31.10.2024).
[4] “Hungarian FM: cooperation between Azerbaijan, Georgia, Romania, Hungary ‘can be game-changer’”, Agenda.Ge, https://agenda.ge/en/news/2024/41352, (Date of Access: 31.10.2024).
[5] “Hungarian FM claims “no international organisation” has described parliamentary elections in Georgia as ‘not democratic’”, Agenda.Ge, https://agenda.ge/en/news/2024/41359, (Date of Access: 31.10.2024).
[6] “Orban pozdravil Gruziyu s tem, chto ona ne prevratilas ‘vo vtoruyu Ukrainu’”, RTVI, https://rtvi.com/news/orban-pozdravil-gruziyu-s-tem-chto-ona-ne-prevratilas-vo-vtoruyu-ukrainu, (Date of Access: 31.10.2024).
