Trump and Vance push Orban for UN chief

US officials have approached former Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban about running for United Nations Secretary-General. The push comes with an expectation that Russia and China will join the American effort to support the former leader. Orban has not yet made a final decision on whether to enter the race, though sources indicate he is interested.

A US State Department official stated that the proposal initially appeared unlikely. The official estimated that eight of the Security Council's 15 members would easily back Orban's candidacy. The potential to secure as many as 10 votes represents a strong position on the council. However, no public commitments from specific countries to support the Hungarian leader have been cited yet.

The strategy relies on the historical pattern where Washington, Moscow, and Beijing agree on an outcome. When these three permanent members align, they can generally secure the result. The US official described Orban as the dream candidate for MAGA conservatives, citing his opposition to large-scale immigration and liberal nongovernmental organizations.

Orban's name surfaced repeatedly during discussions among US officials. American counterparts said they wanted someone like Orban, a suggestion their Chinese and Russian counterparts agreed with. Orban expressed reservations related to his identity as a nationalist politician. He also declined to announce his candidacy unless he was confident he could win.

A key uncertainty lies with the United Kingdom and France. Both hold veto power on the Security Council. The report suggested these nations might refrain from blocking a candidate backed by a majority of the council and the other three permanent members. Neither London nor Paris has taken an official position on Orban's potential run.

If Orban decides to run, Trump and Vice President JD Vance are expected to back him. Trump endorsed Orban during Hungary's April elections, and Vance campaigned on his behalf. A source familiar with the initiative said any announcement would be delayed until after the US midterm elections.

Emirati diplomat Lana Nusseibeh is the other leading candidate in the race. She entered the field last week and is expected to answer questions on Tuesday. A Security Council straw poll is scheduled for Wednesday to gauge support. Guterres' term ends on December 31, and additional candidates could still enter the race before then.