The World Economic Forum in Davos is traditionally seen as a neutral platform for discussing global issues and finding compromises between states, businesses and international institutions. However, in 2026, this format increasingly revealed its limitations. The forum, held under the motto ‘The Spirit of Dialogue,’ reflected the growing geopolitical tensions...
Cyprus mysteries: the death of a diplomat and the disappearance of a businessman
In early January 2026, Cyprus found itself at the centre of two high-profile incidents involving diplomacy, intelligence, business and possible political consequences for relations with Russia. On 8 January, Anton Panov (sometimes referred to as Alexei in foreign sources), an employee of the Russian diplomatic mission, was found dead in...
Orbán’s radical voice: Zsolt Bayer as a symbol of the authoritarian degradation of journalism
Zsolt Bayer is a Hungarian journalist, publicist and propagandist known for his pro-Russian, right-wing extremist, racist and ultra-nationalist views. He always interprets the domestic and foreign policy of Viktor Orbán's government in a manner loyal to the authorities, which makes him an important tool of modern Orbán propaganda in influencing...
An island that has become a stumbling block: Greenland between the US and Europe
Greenland, which until recently was perceived as a remote Arctic territory with limited influence on world politics, has now become one of the key hubs of global geopolitical tension. The United States' heightened interest in the island has revealed not only the struggle for resources and security in the Arctic,...
Embassy or Trojan Horse: Diplomacy, Security and China’s Presence in London
The issue of constructing a new embassy building for the People's Republic of China in London has evolved over several years from a construction project into a large-scale socio-political conflict involving issues of national security, diplomatic pressure and human rights. The story surrounding the so-called ‘super embassy’ reflects a broader...
The Havana Syndrome: invisible weapons and traces of the GRU
At the end of 2016, employees of the US Embassy in Havana began complaining of dizziness, nausea, headaches, and hearing problems. Some claimed that before their condition worsened, they heard piercing or low-frequency sounds, and the impact itself felt directed. Initially, these complaints were not taken seriously, but by 2017...
Espionage among allies: Hungary’s role in a major espionage scandal in Brussels
The exposure of a spy network operating from the building of the Permanent Representation of Hungary to the European Union in Brussels was one of the most serious counterintelligence operations in recent years and has once again raised the issue of the stability and security of EU institutions. The joint...
Political asylum within the EU: the case of Zbigniew Ziobro and the crisis of trust between Poland and Hungary
Hungary's decision to grant political asylum to former high-ranking Polish officials has become one of the most resonant episodes in relations between the two countries in recent times. We are not talking about dissidents or marginal figures, but about key representatives of the former Polish government, people who until recently...
Patrick Egan and his English-language media network: Orbán’s soft power
Patrick Egan is increasingly mentioned in analytical and expert circles as one of the most prominent and controversial figures in the English-language media space in Central and Eastern Europe. An American media strategist and graduate of the University of Oregon and the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy (Tufts University),...
The rise of the AfD: causes, rhetoric, and the Russian connection
The rise in popularity of the Alternative für Deutschland (AfD) party is no longer a phenomenon but has become one of the serious challenges for German and European politics. While in the mid-2010s the AfD was perceived as a protest group of Eurosceptics, today it is confidently competing with traditional...