Hungarian Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó’s visit to Prague has become another episode in the growing clash between parts of Central Europe and the EU’s political mainstream. After meeting Czech Foreign Minister Petr Macinka, Szijjártó declared that Hungary and the Czech Republic are entering a “new era” of cooperation, and described Prime Minister Andrej Babiš’s government as one of Viktor Orbán’s most important allies.
The meeting took place at the Czernin Palace, the seat of the Czech Foreign Ministry. In statements following the talks, the two sides highlighted their political alignment on a number of European issues and presented the Prague–Budapest relationship as increasingly strategic, not only bilaterally but also in the broader contest over the direction of EU policy.
“No” to war, migration, and “gender madness”: Szijjártó’s hardline message
The strongest element of Szijjártó’s message was political and ideological. Quoted widely by the media, he said that the “patriotic governments” of Hungary and the Czech Republic are united on the most important issues: “no” to war, “no” to migration, and “no” to what he called “gender madness.”
Szijjártó echoed the same tone on social media, arguing that Brussels has long tried to impose its preferred direction, interferes in elections, and can be expected to act even more aggressively in the future. He claimed that EU institutions want to drag countries into war and bring migrants to Central Europe, adding that Hungary will continue to say “no” regardless of the pressure.
Ukraine and “American peace initiatives”
According to the Hungarian side, both governments reaffirmed their opposition to illegal relocation of migrants and repeated their resistance to deeper involvement in the war in Ukraine, while signalling support for American peace initiatives. The framing fits Budapest’s established line: scepticism toward EU moves that increase military or political engagement and a consistent emphasis on negotiations and de-escalation.
Why the Czech Republic is being elevated to “top ally”
Szijjártó’s strong emphasis on Prague reflects the post-election shift in Czech politics. Andrej Babiš returned to the prime minister’s office after his party’s victory, forming a government with forces critical of several EU priorities—especially in areas such as migration and climate policy. In the Hungarian narrative, this change creates an opportunity to build a tighter Central European bloc capable of resisting Brussels on contested issues.
Petr Macinka’s role matters here as well. As foreign minister and a key figure in the new Czech cabinet, he embodies the government’s more confrontational posture toward parts of the EU agenda, including elements associated with the Green Deal. That, in turn, provides Budapest with a partner willing to translate rhetoric into coordinated positions inside the EU.
A new chapter for the Visegrád format?
Hungary is openly linking the new Czech government to hopes of reviving regional cooperation—especially the Visegrád Group, which has been weakened in recent years by deep differences over Ukraine and broader relations with Russia. Budapest’s message is clear: with Prague back on a more “patriotic” track, the region can once again form a stronger, more coherent front.
Whether that will actually happen is another question. The effectiveness of any renewed Central European alignment will depend on the internal cohesion of Babiš’s coalition, the positions of other regional capitals, and the EU’s willingness to compromise on migration, climate policy, and the rules governing common spending and integration.
What comes next
In the short term, Szijjártó’s Prague visit is a political signal: Hungary wants to show it is not isolated in the EU, and that the Czech Republic—under its new leadership—can become a key partner in pushing back against Brussels. More broadly, it underlines that today’s lines of division in the EU are increasingly shaped not just by geography or “old vs. new” membership, but by competing visions of how the Union should respond to migration pressures, climate transformation, and security on the eastern flank. In that sense, the firm “no” voiced in Prague may foreshadow tougher bargaining inside the EU in the months ahead.
