Political scientist: Western allies do not trust Hungary, NATO, EU will kick us out?
Gábor Török, a well-known Hungarian political scientist, analysed Prime Minister Viktor Orbán’s state of the nation speech in the Aréna of Inforádió. He said that the Western allies’ trust broke in Hungary. They do not know how much Russia influences Budapest’s policies. Therefore, PM Orbán must carry out a turn in foreign policy, and that is what his speech was about. The EU and NATO want to remain unified against Moscow’s threat. And that fact might come in handy for Hungary.
Mr Török said that the Western allies did not entirely lose their trust in Hungary, but they are unsure to what extent Vladimir Putin affects Orbán and his administration. Thus, they wait for clear signs from the Hungarian government. And that is what Orbán sent them in his speech last Saturday in Budapest’s illustrious Castle Garden Bazaar.
He made it clear that Hungary is part of the Western world and Hungary’s NATO membership is vital for the country. Furthermore, he said there is no difference regarding the strategic aims of the Western allies. “We want Russia not to be a threat to Europe, and we want there to be a sufficiently broad and deep area between Russia and Hungary: a sovereign Ukraine”, Orbán highlighted. According to Mr Török, that thought has never been expressed yet.
State of the nation:
Török believes that Orbán’s speech shows Hungary is now in search for a new path for its foreign policy. That is because the European Union’s multiple rule-of-law processes launched against Hungary, are the consequence of the above-mentioned trust problems. The problem was never that the Hungarian government slammed Brussels, for example, on the issue of migration. Orbán was even allowed to criticise Washington. The problem is that the Western allies are not sure how to view the Orbán-Putin relationship. That is the main reason why they do not give the EU funds to Hungary.
Peace and security – above everything else:
Of course, Orbán could have waited until a turn in Western policies. For example, the victory of Trump overseas. However, that can only happen in end-2024 and would mean a change in the US policies in 2025. And Hungary may not have two more years to wait for billions of euros, Török argued. Furthermore, general elections will happen in Poland this year, and the opposition might win. Provided that happens, Orbán will lose his most powerful ally in the EU. Therefore, the Hungarian foreign policy needs to change and become more anti-Russia and less EU and NATO critic even in words.
Török also said that the EU and NATO would remain unified against the Russian challenge. Therefore, they are interested in Hungary’s return to their camp.
And there are already signs. For example, Gergely Gulyás, the prime minister’s chief of staff, said yesterday on an extraordinary government briefing that Orbán’s official visit to Kyiv is under planning. Furthermore, Péter Szijjártó, Hungary’s foreign minister, voted for a UN resolution calling Russia to leave Ukraine, index.hu wrote.
Moreover, FM Péter Szijjártó cleared to the CNN yesterday that Ukraine’s territorial integrity must be respected. He added that the government condemned the Russian attack.
Source: Infórádió, index.hu