Hungarian Institute of International Affairs signals major foreign policy shift

The leadership of the Hungarian Institute of International Affairs (HIIA) has announced a strategic shift in Hungary's diplomatic direction. Newly appointed director-general Botond Feledy and research deputy András Rácz have signaled a "complete break" with the MAGA-focused foreign policy previously associated with Balázs Orbán.

Under the new direction, the HIIA is being transferred from the Prime Minister’s Office back to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The institution aims to move away from ideological positioning and political propaganda, focusing instead on providing professional analysis and expertise to support Foreign Ministry decision-making.

Central to this realignment is the repositioning of the European Union as a primary focus for Hungarian interests. This shift follows recent diplomatic moves by Prime Minister Péter Magyar, including rebuilding ties with Poland and Germany, and unblocking EU funds for Ukraine. Additionally, the government is increasing scrutiny of existing relationships with Russia and China, including reviews of major energy and infrastructure projects.