The President of the United States, Donald Trump, has formalized a bilateral agreement with the Government of Hungary to strengthen cooperation in defending religious freedom and supporting communities persecuted for reasons of faith, with special attention to sub-Saharan Africa and the Middle East.
The memorandum was signed on February 4 in Washington by Michael J. Rigas, U.S. Under Secretary of State for Management and Resources, and by Tristan Azbej, Hungarian State Secretary responsible for the Hungary Helps program, aimed at supporting persecuted Christian communities.
Cooperation to Assist Persecuted Communities
According to the U.S. Department of State, the agreement aims to facilitate cooperation between both countries in supporting Christians and other people of faith who suffer persecution, violence, or discrimination in various international contexts. The text underscores the shared commitment of Washington and Budapest to promoting religious freedom as a fundamental right.
The U.S. Administration indicated that Christians constitute one of the most persecuted religious groups worldwide and that attacks against these communities have humanitarian and security implications, especially in regions affected by prolonged conflicts.
Hungary’s Role in Aid Programs
From the Hungarian side, Tristan Azbej highlighted his country’s involvement in initiatives to support persecuted Christian communities, especially through projects focused on reconstruction, education, and maintaining populations in their places of origin. Hungary has developed this type of program in various countries in recent years.
The agreement provides for the promotion of joint projects aimed at protecting religious minorities and stabilizing areas affected by sectarian violence, extremism, and persecution for ideological or religious reasons.
Trump’s Denunciations of Religious Persecution
The signing of this agreement comes in a context in which Trump has repeatedly denounced the persecution of Christians in various countries. In particular, the U.S. president had called in previous months for a firmer international response to the violence against Christian communities in Nigeria, where numerous attacks have been recorded with a high number of victims and displaced persons.