New Atlanticism Is the Key to a Better Future

President-elect Joe Biden and his designated secretary of state know us better than their predecessors did, and they will turn their attention to the rule of law and advocacy of human rights. The following commentary is by Géza Jeszenszky, former Hungarian ambassador to Washington.

According to a website (Magyar Békekör) with a mysterious pedigree and most likely backed by Russia, “China will become the leader of the world economy by 2028, and will take over the leading role of the United States economy five years sooner than previously thought.” It is a brave prophecy, as the future is inscrutable, but whoever wants to can believe it. I do not believe it, but even if it happens, China will still be a threat and not a model. If the American liberal democracy model should fail, then the world’s most populous country will utilize its great achievements in space research and information technology and, with technology capable of surveilling how people think, fulfill and surpass George Orwell’s nightmare. Who would want to live in that kind of system?

Joe Biden’s victory in the November election proved that the democratic foundations of the United States are strong, as the election results were confirmed by the Supreme Court, which has a conservative majority. Increasingly more Republican politicians are turning away from their swindler golden boy, who refuses to accept defeat and who has failed politically and morally.

András Simonyi, my successor at the U.S. Embassy in Washington, D.C. who currently watches American and world politics near the White House, gave an interview to Hírklikk the other day and said, “The United States is today’s guardian of democracy in the world, the last defensive stronghold of the free world to restrain the advancements of China-like single party dictatorships. A colossal battle is developing between Western democracies and Eastern authoritarian systems, and sooner or later Prime Minister Orbán and Hungary must take a side and choose who to join … [I]n the battle between these two systems, the United States will be the pivotal player and not the European Union. And in this connection, we must also watch where Hungary will place itself.” I read similar opinions in Csaba Káncz’s world political and economic analyses.

Militarily and economically, the United States continues to guard its first place in the world, while in the field of technological innovations and scientific inventions, it is still unsurpassed.

Significant tasks face the new American administration. It must repair the far left’s disruptive statue dismantling movements without losing its support, and push social change and health care reform that their supporters rightfully expect. It must reduce the significantly increased wealth gap without halting the economy and encourage young people and those who depend on social welfare to join the workforce. The societal and political divide that Donald Trump increased must now be reduced. Foreign policy goals will be just as difficult. The dangerously diminished alliance with Europe must be strengthened, the spread of Asian dictatorial states’ economic and political influence must be prevented, and the new wave of Islamic fundamentalism needs to be stopped. The soon-to-be inaugurated president has selected his team from a pool of accomplished and moderate candidates. Currently, he is being criticized by the left because he does not want the next four years to be a third Barack Obama administration.

What Does New American Leadership Mean for Hungary?

Our nation is still only a small player in world politics, and this cannot be changed by loud voices demanding attention. However, Biden and his future secretary of state know us better than his predecessors. The new president was 14 years old during our revolution of 1956, and that had a major impact on his foreign policy views. I have personally seen this in him. His political career began under President Jimmy Carter, who gave the Holy Crown back to Hungary, and under his national security advisor, Zbigniew Brzezinski. Brzezinski was a Polish-born diplomat who played a major part in dismantling communist systems. Human rights were at the forefront of American foreign policy during a process that began in Helsinki in 1975, as the U.S. harshly criticized the discrimination of national minorities in Soviet bloc countries. Biden was also there, along with his friend Tom Lantos, when they enthusiastically welcomed Jozsef Antall as the likely leader in January 1990 and as prime minister of Hungary that October.

In the U.S. Senate, Biden was among those who led support for three of the Visegrad countries which sought NATO membership.*

He knows where Hungary is because he visited Lake Balaton during his honeymoon with his wife, the future first lady. All these are positive predictors of Hungarian-American relations in the near future, but some obstacles remain.

It was not a good idea for the Hungarian government to publicly support Trump, tactlessly attack Biden, then congratulate the winner on a successful campaign. Nevertheless, Antony Blinken, the nominated secretary of state and son of a former U.S. ambassador to Hungary, will not shape foreign policy against Hungary based on whom it supported, but by its actions.

The Trump administration did not like the big friendship between Vladimir Putin and China, but the Biden administration will treat any behavior contradictory to the kind of behavior expected of a NATO ally seriously.

Even the purchase of American weapons will not stop the U.S. from harshly criticizing such behavior. The U.S. will take a more peaceful approach to foreign policy than Trump did, and will strengthen Atlanticism and relationships with allies. Attention will once more turn to the rule of law and the defense of basic human rights. This is what the European Union is also promising. Since it has engaged in confrontational politics, the Hungarian government will not be able to count on its Visegrád partners as much. Poland also relies on its close relationship with the U.S. Some 120 years ago, even England as a world power could not afford to exercise “splendid isolation.” The goals of a small Central European country can only be achieved with the help of friends and allies. This is especially true for deterring threats against the Hungarian community in Transcarpathia, the answer to which lies in Washington.

The success of Biden’s presidency is not only in the interest of the United States, but the entire world. I hope they recognize that in Budapest, too.

The author served as Hungarian secretary of state and former ambassador to the U.S. in Washington.

*Editor’s Note: The Visegrad Group is an alliance of four eastern and central European states: Poland, Hungary, the Czech Republic and Slovakia.