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President Donald Trump’s decision to suspend US overseas funding shocked many NGO networks globally, which had been receiving grants under the initiative.
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban and Hungarian-American billionaire George Soros | File Image/AP
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban on Tuesday vowed to safeguard the European continent from NGO networks led by Hungarian-American billionaire George Soros, which he alleged are fleeing to Belgium following Donald Trump’s crackdown on USAID.
President Donald Trump’s decision to suspend US overseas funding shocked many NGO networks globally, which had been receiving grants under the guise of human rights development, healthcare, and other purposes.
“Our fears have come true: the globalist-liberal-Soros NGO network is fleeing to Brussels after President Trump dealt a huge blow to their activities in the US. Now 63 of them are asking Brussels for money, under the guise of various human rights projects,” Orban said in an X post, making his stand clear against the Soros network.
“Not going to happen! We will not let them find a safe haven in Europe! The USAID-files exposed the dark practices of the globalist network. We will not take the bait again,” he added.
WARNING! Our fears have come true: the globalist-liberal-Soros NGO network is fleeing to Brussels, after President Trump dealt a huge blow to their activities in the US. Now 63 of them are asking Brussels for money, under the guise of various human rights projects. Not going to…— Orbán Viktor (@PM_ViktorOrban) February 18, 2025
At a time when the United States ordered the bulk of US foreign assistance to be frozen for three months, the International Commission of Jurists (ICJ) made an urgent appeal calling on EU leaders to take immediate action to address the global development aid crisis.
The Hungarian PM claimed that, after facing the consequences of funding cuts in the US, 63 Soros-led NGO networks have moved to Europe to seek financial support for their organisations, given that appeals are already being filed to EU leaders to step up their financial aid programmes to ensure continued support for global aid.
Soros Used USAID Grants To Destabilise Target Countries?
Soros’ organisations received $260 million from USAID to “influence political affairs and destabilise multiple nations, including India and Bangladesh,” according to reports.
Earlier this month, BJP MP Nishikant Dubey also alleged that the US agency funded anti-India elements aligned with Congress, and demanded a comprehensive probe.
“Did USAID provide Rs 5,000 crore to the Open Society Foundation run by George Soros to destabilise India? Did USAID and the George Soros Foundation give money to the Rajiv Gandhi Foundation and Rajiv Gandhi Charitable Trust or not? I demand that Congress should answer and a govt probe be conducted,” Dubey said as Congress members protested.
Elon Musk, the head of DOGE, has backed the Trump administration in drawing attention to USAID’s financial support for what they describe as “woke and controversial” projects. Musk’s involvement has intensified Republican criticism of foreign aid being used for regime change and political influence in several countries.
In India, the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has long accused Soros of supporting opposition groups and funding critics of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. BJP leaders claim that Soros’ initiatives are designed to destabilise the Indian government and interfere in national politics.
