A Conservative Surge Amid Global Tensions

It is a world that seeks to challenge the entrenched powers of globalism and reshape the political landscape. Nowhere was this more evident than at the 2025 Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) in Budapest, where Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán once again proved himself a linchpin of the global right.

Simultaneously, in Germany, the Alternative für Deutschland (AfD) is waging its own battle against politically motivated narratives, exposing the fragility of mainstream media claims. Yet, looming over these developments is Ukraine’s audacious drone strike on Russian military airfields, a stark reminder that the conservative surge is unfolding against a backdrop of escalating global risks. Conservative observers see these events as a clarion call: the right is rising, but it must navigate a world fraught with danger.

CPAC Budapest: A Beacon of Conservative Unity

Since its inception in the 1970s, CPAC has been a crucible for American conservative ideas, uniting disparate factions under a shared vision of limited government and national sovereignty. Under Orbán’s leadership, its European branch in Budapest has become a rallying point for a broader “patriotic international.”

The 2025 conference, building on its 2022 debut, was a masterclass in political theater. Orbán, ever the strategist, opened with a video message from U.S. President Donald Trump, who, from the Oval Office, hailed his “great friend” and promised, “We’ll see each other again soon.”

For Orbán, this was more than a nod—it was a lifeline to global legitimacy. “He gave us back hope,” Orbán declared, tying Trump’s White House comeback to Hungary’s own nationalist project.

The conference was a who’s-who of European right-wing luminaries. Herbert Kickl, leader of Austria’s Freedom Party (FPÖ), stole the spotlight with Orbán’s ringing endorsement: “Herbert Kickl should actually be chancellor.” Orbán’s prophecy of a future celebration in Vienna underscored his ambition to build a pan-European conservative axis.

Kickl, in turn, delivered a fiery speech, decrying EU elites and warning of “total surveillance” and a looming “digital dictatorship.” His closing cry of “Fight, fight, fight!”—a nod to Trump’s combative rhetoric—electrified the crowd, cementing Budapest as a “symbol of resistance.”

The roster was stacked with heavyweights: former Czech President Andrej Babiš, Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico, and Dutch politician Geert Wilders, alongside international figures like Georgian Prime Minister Kobachidze, and American Republicans such as CPAC Chairman Matt Schlapp.

Yet, beneath the surface, cracks were visible. The German AfD, represented by Alice Weidel, remained somewhat sidelined, a reminder that unity on the right is not seamless. Still, Budapest’s tailwind from Washington is undeniable. Orbán’s vision of a global conservative alliance is gaining traction, and it’s a necessary counterweight to the overreach of globalist institutions.

The AfD’s Battle Against Media Smears

While Budapest hosted this conservative summit, Germany’s AfD was fighting a different kind of war—one against a media narrative designed to vilify its electoral gains. Reports surfaced after the federal election claiming that AfD successes along Germany’s Baltic coast triggered a wave of vacation cancellations, painting the party as a threat to local tourism.

Anyone who values truth over propaganda, this narrative is infuriatingly baseless. AfD Bundestag member Dario Seifert exposed its hollowness through a written inquiry to the federal government, which admitted it had no statistical evidence of any link between AfD victories and tourism declines.

“Neither a development nor a corresponding trend could be identified,” the government conceded, handing the AfD a victory in its fight against what Seifert rightly called “purely political framing.”

Seifert’s inquiry was spurred by media claims, such as those citing Lars Schwarz, a DEHOGA official in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, who later retracted his statements. “The damage had been done and the headlines had been made,” Seifert noted, highlighting how quickly falsehoods can take root.

The AfD’s tourism spokesperson, Paul Timm, dismissed the reports as “cheap propaganda,” pointing to tourism companies’ reports of stable demand. This episode is a textbook case of the left’s playbook: smear conservatives with unverified claims to sow division. The government’s admission vindicates the AfD’s pushback and underscores a broader truth: conservative movements must remain vigilant against narratives that seek to delegitimize their gains.

Ukraine’s Drone Strike: A Dangerous Escalation

Amid this conservative resurgence, a chilling development threatens to upend global stability: Ukraine’s “Spider Web” drone operation against Russian military airfields. This meticulously planned attack, prepared over 18 months, targeted strategic bombers—Tu-95s, Tu-22M3s, and A-50s—vital to Russia’s nuclear deterrence. Over 100 AI-controlled drones, launched from mobile hideouts within Russia, struck airbases like Belaya, Dyagilevo, Olenya, and Ivanovo, some reportedly housing nuclear weapons. The Ukrainian Security Service claimed over 40 Russian aircraft were hit, a devastating blow to Moscow’s strategic arsenal.

Russia branded the strikes “terrorist acts,” and the implications are staggering. Imagine a similar attack on the U.S. B-52 fleet, a cornerstone of American nuclear deterrence. Such an act would trigger “DEFCON 1,” signaling imminent war. Ukraine’s operation exploited transparency rules in the New START Treaty, which mandates that nuclear-capable bombers be visible to satellite surveillance. Likely aided by U.S. intelligence, Ukraine’s actions have pushed the world closer to nuclear conflict. Reports suggest Vladimir Putin has ordered the preparation of RS-26 “Oreschnik” missiles, a chilling response that could spiral out of control.

This escalation should be viewed with alarm. The New START Treaty, extended until 2026, was designed to prevent such brinkmanship by ensuring mutual transparency. Ukraine’s bold move, while tactically impressive, risks dismantling decades of nuclear stability. If Putin were to order the opening of ICBM silo hatches—a proportionate but provocative response—the miscalculation could be catastrophic. Those, like the EU and German government, who arm Ukraine beyond “bows and arrows,” are recklessly endangering global security.

A Conservative Call to Action

The convergence of CPAC Budapest, the AfD’s fight against media falsehoods, and Ukraine’s provocative strike paints a complex picture. On one hand, the conservative movement is gaining momentum, uniting leaders like Orbán, Kickl, and Trump in a shared vision of sovereignty and resistance. Seifert’s exposure of media lies embodies the spirit of a movement unafraid to challenge the status quo. On the other hand, the Ukrainian operation underscores the fragility of global order, where nationalist bravado can tip into existential risk.

Orbán’s “patriotic international” offers a bold vision, but it must be tempered with diplomatic caution to avoid entanglement in global conflicts. The AfD’s victory over false narratives shows the power of truth, but it also demands broader coalition-building to sustain momentum.

Most urgently, the West must reassess its support for any kind of escalatory tactics, which threaten to unravel decades of nuclear stability. As conservatives, we champion sovereignty and truth, but we must also champion peace. The alternative—a world where bold actions ignite catastrophe—is one we cannot afford.