Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán was among multiple world leaders named as being under covert American surveillance, with the CIA warning that the Fidesz leader is increasingly prone towards anti-Americanism.
The revelation came as part of a leaked tranche of intelligence documents relating to American espionage against Russia and NATO allies that emerged from an unknown source through online platforms such as 4chan, Discord, and Telegram.
The leaks have been described as the worst in a decade and undermine Washington’s support of Ukraine as officials, according to the documents, appear to doubt Kyiv’s ability to continue the war.
Orbán identified the United States as one of Hungary’s top three adversaries in a private strategy session in February, stating that the U.S. embassy was actively attempting to subvert his administration. The Hungarian government declined to comment regarding the revelations.
Hungary has been relentlessly hounded by the American foreign policy establishment over its alleged lack of support for Ukraine as well as internal policies promoting social conservatism. American ambassador to Hungary David Pressman has been proactive in his recent criticism of Orbán with rumours that USAID chief Samantha Power is laying the groundwork for a future anti-Fidesz colour revolution.
Hungary was just one of many countries, including Turkey, Ukraine, and China named in the leaks, which focused on the international response to the Ukraine war and the state of Russian forces.
The documents accuse President el-Sisi of Egypt of intending to sell weapons to Russia and also reveal that the United States has been using signals intelligence to penetrate the decision-making process in Israel and Turkey.
Throughout the leak, American intelligence officials are primarily concerned that nations are not doing enough to back Ukraine, with additional fears that Russia was using its proxy Wagner group and disinformation campaigns to exert influence in states such as Haiti. The documents also reveal incidents where NATO and Russian forces almost clashed and insight into Washington’s understanding of the Russian war effort.
The debacle has drawn comparison to the 2013 Snowden exposé and revelations that the United States was spying on then-German Chancellor Angela Merkel.
The documents, if genuine, underline the often one-sided relationship between Washington and its allies. Politically isolated with the advent of war, Hungary may become the focus of American-led intrigue in years ahead.
