Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban and Russian President Vladimir Putin in the Kremlin, 5 July 2024: Alexander Nemenov / AFP
Hungary undermines NATO’s unity by increasing contacts with Russia
Hungary’s policy towards NATO is causing growing concern among NATO member states, as Hungarian officials have once again shied away from discussing cooperation.On Wednesday, they ignored a meeting of all NATO ambassadors and military advisers accredited to Hungary to discuss Budapest’s growing ties with Moscow and Beijing, Politicoreports.
“We appreciated the opportunity to discuss Hungary’s new policy with our allies. The very fact that we needed to discuss the ‘neutrality’ of a NATO member country speaks for itself,” said US Ambassador to Budapest David Pressman after the meeting.
While Hungary remained on the sidelines, Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó was preparing to address a security conference in Belarus, along with his Russian counterpart, Sergei Lavrov, and Syrian Foreign Minister Bassam Sabbagh. Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, despite the country’s 25-year NATO membership, is promoting the idea of economic neutrality, which implies “a departure from the traditional Western course.”
This is causing conflict with Western partners at a time when they are helping Ukraine and trying to strengthen sanctions against Russia. Orban is also blocking EU efforts to finance military aid to Kyiv and to use frozen Russian assets to support Ukraine.
Orban, seeking new allies, recently found support from Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico. He said he plans to visit Moscow next year for the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II and meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin. After that, Orban arrived in Georgia to support a pro-Russian party, which drew criticism from Sweden and other EU countries. Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson sharply stated: “Orban does not speak for the countries of Europe”.
In addition to its rapprochement with Moscow, Hungary is also seeking new partners in China, lobbying for the construction of automotive plants in its country, which is a cause for additional concern among the Allies. “Hungary’s economic ‘neutrality’ and growing dependence on Moscow and Beijing have implications for U.S. security and Euro-Atlantic interests,” said Ambassador Pressman.
Despite the absence of a mechanism for expelling countries from NATO, Hungary continues to have access to the alliance’s classified documents. According to former NATO Assistant Secretary General Kamil Grand, this situation could change if Budapest starts to show sympathy for Russia’s positions on critical issues.
Such actions by Hungary, which at one time was eager to join NATO and disassociate itself from Moscow, are now undermining the unity of the alliance and adding to tensions with the EU and the US.
