In a year marked by shifting alliances, diplomatic recalibrations, and a sense of mounting isolation among some of the world’s most influential blocs, the future of international relations in 2025 looks anything but predictable. As the European Union grapples with what Hungarian Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó has described as a “year of isolation,” other nations, like Israel, are doubling down on global outreach, determined to reshape their narratives and secure their interests on the world stage.
On December 1, 2025, Péter Szijjártó, Hungary’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade, addressed the National Assembly’s Foreign Affairs Committee in Budapest with a blunt assessment: “2025 has been a year of isolation for the European Union, with the EU no longer playing a role in global politics.” According to Hungary Today, Szijjártó argued that Brussels has been sidelined, frustrated by its inability to dictate the foreign policies of Central European countries like Hungary, which are increasingly charting independent courses based on national interests.
Szijjártó didn’t mince words when critiquing the direction of EU foreign policy. He described it as “overly ideological, pro-war, pro-migration, and pro-gender,” a combination he claims has led to the bloc’s global isolation. “Today, the European Union is pursuing a foreign policy strategy that is pro-war, pro-migration, and pro-gender, thereby completely isolating itself in global politics,” he said, as reported by Hungary Today. He went on to suggest that this marginalization is the root cause of the frustration evident in European statements, especially when leaders from Central Europe act without Western Europe’s blessing.
The Hungarian foreign minister’s critique didn’t stop at ideology. He pointed to what he considers failed outcomes in the EU’s dealings with major global powers. Szijjártó noted that, after years of strained rhetoric toward U.S. President Donald Trump from “mainstream liberal politicians,” the EU has only managed to secure an “extremely unfavorable customs agreement with the United States.” He also highlighted a growing rift with China, criticizing the European Commission’s decision to label China as a “systemic rival.” In his view, “it is not the system that should be competed with, but rather fruitful cooperation should be built, as evidenced by the example of Hungary.”
Economic fallout from the EU’s foreign policy choices was another major theme in Szijjártó’s address. He lambasted the bloc’s sanctions against Russia, which have now reached nineteen packages over four years. “The Russian economy has still not been brought to its knees,” Szijjártó argued, “On the other hand, we have caused Europe a lot of serious problems, for example by causing energy prices to skyrocket.” He pointed out that Europeans are now paying two to three times as much for gas as their American counterparts, and four to five times more for electricity than consumers in China. “In my view, it is not an answer that we in Europe now pay two to three times as much for gas as American economic actors, nor is it an answer that European companies pay four to five times as much for electricity as Chinese actors,” he said, according to Hungary Today.
Beyond Russia and China, Szijjártó lamented the EU’s failure to conclude free trade and investment protection agreements with many African and Asian countries. He blamed this on the bloc’s insistence on inserting what he called “ideologized issues,” such as gender ideology, into otherwise pragmatic negotiations. “What does Brussels’ gender ideology have to do with trade cooperation? And it is usually such ideologized issues that kill agreements that are in the European Union’s interest,” he stated.
While the EU faces criticism for retreating from the global stage, Israel presents a contrasting narrative. On December 2, 2025, Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar told the Knesset’s Foreign Affairs and Security Committee that Israel has significantly expanded its diplomatic reach this year. According to i24NEWS, Sa’ar reported that Israel opened three new embassies in Europe, Latin America, and Africa in 2025, all while facing what he described as “political isolation.”
Sa’ar highlighted the country’s unprecedented outreach efforts, including hosting over 300 delegations in 2025—about 15 times more than in previous years. Among these were a delegation of 1,000 U.S. pastors, religious figures, and influencers, 250 U.S. state legislators, and 160 representatives from Germany’s 16 federal states. Sa’ar called the German group the largest-ever delegation from that country. These numbers, he argued, demonstrate Israel’s determination to counteract isolation by building bridges and forging new alliances.
The Israeli foreign minister stressed that diplomacy is now as crucial to Israel’s security as its military might. “Without the military, Israel has no existence,” Sa’ar told the committee, “but today, the political and diplomatic front is equally vital.” He urged that investment in diplomacy should match the resources devoted to military capabilities such as aircraft, missiles, and interceptors. Although the Foreign Ministry received a budget increase in 2025, Sa’ar said it remains insufficient given the challenges Israel faces from adversaries and competing global narratives. He plans to request expanded diplomatic funding in the upcoming 2026 budget, underscoring the growing importance of public opinion campaigns abroad.
Meanwhile, Hungary positions itself as a potential mediator in the ongoing war in Ukraine—now approaching its fourth year. Szijjártó praised U.S. President Donald Trump’s peace plan as a “huge opportunity to end the war in Ukraine,” stating, “We Hungarians fully and wholeheartedly support this, but let us not be naive! The Europeans will do everything they can to undermine this, just as they have undermined all peace efforts so far.” He warned that without a diplomatic settlement, the conflict will only worsen, with more deaths and destruction. “I think it is time for Europeans to take the side of peace. And here we have Hungary, here we have Budapest as the venue for peace talks,” he said, noting that both the American and Russian Presidents have indicated their willingness to attend a summit in Budapest if conditions allow.
As the EU faces internal divisions and external criticism, and as Israel pushes ahead with robust diplomatic initiatives, the broader question emerges: Is the very nature of global power shifting? What’s clear is that the old playbook—where a handful of major powers set the agenda—no longer holds. Countries like Hungary and Israel are staking out new roles, sometimes at odds with the prevailing winds in Brussels or Washington, but always with an eye on national interest and security.
In an era defined by uncertainty, the future of diplomacy may well belong to those willing to adapt, invest, and—when necessary—challenge the status quo. Whether these new strategies will yield lasting influence or further fragmentation remains to be seen, but for now, the world is watching as old alliances are tested and new partnerships are forged.