Hungary an “annoying sideshow” in NATO
Hungary, together with Türkiye, is blocking the NATO accession of Sweden. Among other things, Hungary’s concern is that the Scandinavian country criticises Hungary’s democratic system. The Western allies do not understand Hungary’s communication.
Western officials are irritated that Hungary is blocking Sweden’s accession to NATO, Politico reports. After months of delays, Hungarian lawmakers approved Finland’s accession only before Türkiye. But the country continues to delay a decision on Sweden, along with the Turks.
According to Politico, the Hungarian parliament is withholding support for the Swedish bid because Stockholm has criticised the country’s democratic credentials. According to State Secretary Zoltán Kovács, “Stockholm sits on a crumbling throne of moral superiority”.
In the past few days, the government has also raised another grievance against Sweden for joining several other EU Members in a lawsuit against Hungary over anti-LGBTQ laws.
Western countries, however, take Prime Minister Viktor Orbán much less seriously than Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. This is because the ever-changing rhetoric of Hungary is difficult for the members of the alliance to understand, the portal writes.
Speaking on condition of anonymity about the internal dynamics of the alliance, a senior European diplomat said Hungary was an “annoying sideshow” in NATO.
Budapest’s position could be part of a broader foreign policy strategy. While many NATO members see Turkey as an extremist within the alliance, Hungary sees it as a friend and role model.
“I think Orban believes deeply in the decline of the West,” Politico quotes Péter Krekó, director of the Political Capital Institute, as saying.
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Yeah, sure. Because there’s no equality or democracy in NATO (or, for that matter, the E.U.). It totally doesn’t matter what’s in your country’s best interest: You do as you’re told or you’re an outcast. How is that different than the 45 years living under the jackboot of the Warsaw Pact? Sure, they had tanks and the secret police but these guys don’t need that; all they do is turn the economic screw on us… – which is ironic, as it has the same effect as accepting their ridiculous demands to totally isolate Russia and send our energy costs into the stratosphere.
@michaelsteiner – the issue here is, that when you sign up to international agreements and treaties, you relinquish part of your sovereignty. So a country’s best interest may have to play second fiddle to the good of the group or organization you signed up to, or the smaller pain is worth the greater gain (EU common market, NATO defense policy). It’s choices we made, things we signed up to.
Again – if you are in a football team, it is understood that everyone should be willing to make compromises for the greater good. Imagine, if one team member (not the best, strongest or smartest player) always stands up and makes a fuss – how would or should the other team members react? Consider how a group of great players, each doing what they think is appropriate, plays against a good team with mediocre players?
Orban has created this PERSECUTION banner on the name Hungary.
There is Right and There is WRONG – in the acts of persecution being factually placed on Hungary that are on-going at this time.
The end of what still is to come through the name as long as he remains the Prime Minister of Hungary – Victor Orban – the persecutions will continue.
Orban walked Hungary into sinking sand/quicksand – that we NOW have been – through the WEIGHT of Wrongfulness in decision directions making processes undertaken by Orban and his Government – ENGULFED.
Hungary’s brand name by Orban and his Government – has GLOBALLY in the DEMOCRATIC world DISCREDITED.
Orban it could be said, through his self belief – his love of POWER – which wrongfully he has USED – on millions of Hungarian citizens – over 13 years he has been Prime Minister – it could be added in the writing of Orban, that through his Inflamed passions that he lost sight of REASONING.
Orban shoulders ALL this discrediting, through his style, his agenda, Creeds and Dogma of his Political Ideas and Philosophy – his aims and outcomes – that Orban seeks, the positions he takes, dominated by distrust – that “bears witness” sees his PERSONEL reputation and RESPECT in absolute SHATTERS.
Michael. NATO is a military alliance for defense. Turkey has valid concerns for withholding Sweden’s accession. But Hungary has made up excuses for not accepting it. The Supreme Leader thinks it’s a good excuse to block Sweden.
Turkey is blocking Sweden because there are some kurds which Erdogan deems as terrorists for the staged coup attempt in 2016 which was organized by none other than Erdogan himself to consolidate his power, and these “terrorists” are in Sweden.
and what is Hungary’s excuse? “oh some swedish politicians said Hungary is not a democracy, they said people aren’t free bla bla bla”. it’s a very stupid excuse. if they had real concerns about Sweden joining like Turkey has, okay, but the Supreme Leader thinks he’s playing for the audience by blocking Sweden’s accession.
no one is taking Hungary seriously and they shouldn’t. Orban thinks he plays a massive role in this whole thing but in reality he’s just an ant with authority issues, thinking he has more power than he actually has. what NATO is doing (and EU based on EU politics and its own rules and pillars) is showing Hungary that they need to follow the rules they swore to follow when they joined these organizations.
Michael Steiner – never FAILS to exhibit, his support for the Orban ways.
No Freedom of Press – Control of the Judiciary – Rule by Decree.
Steiner needs to get his head around these facts that just are not Democratic and Hungary, till they change these 3 points that I refer, will be an outcast in Europe, let to “self destruct” with as we know having just 2 friends being Russia & China.
Michael Steiner, the difference is that you don’t have to be in the EU or NATO, You can leave whenever you want. But if you like to get billions of euro’s from the EU and get the NATO protection then you have to do things you don’t want to do.
Maybe you should do a story on what happened In Ukraine 2013 – the overthrough and and revolt of the twice elected president with they US being a major player along with Soro. Who is 3 times the biggest funding for the Biden crime family and DNC. After the revolt the US took over the goverment and victoria nuland decided who would be the replacement leader. The US embassy was also a big player and went on to impeach the US president over a 5 minutes of a phone call. Vicky and many of the same players ar back in charge of US role today.
Soros Jr has been to the WH, 12 times in the last year.
How dare the most popular leader in Europe for 12 years still in charge. Let US keep the Empassy but the Biden regime ambassador should be asked to leave. The BCF has made millions in Ukraine at same time of the mess was going on, with the goal to weaken Russia -Surprise surprise they shot back.
The US has now sent over 100 BILLION to Ukraine so they can say they set Ukraine free- no mention half country main language is Russian.
@TM,
May I suggest to you that c. 17.3 pc (ethnic Russians) does NOT equate to “half country”, and even out of that 17.3 pc not all speak Russian as their first language.
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It was WE (Hungary) who APPLIED to become members of EU and NATO in order to enjoy the BENEFITS of said memberhip.
NO ONE is forcing us to stay members! BUT,seeing that the majority of our people want us IN the EU and NATO, our PM and his subordinates should go along with what the people who elected him want (and be a behaving member), otherwise get the fruit out of the EU and NATO.
Let’s get the facts straight – instead of the random, unsubstantiated Soros (why never Koch?) and conspiracy stuff (it’s unhelpful – there is no “master plot” or pedophile ring looking to rule the world. Really).
In 2013 , the Ukrainian parliament overwhelmingly approved finalizing the cooperation agreement with the EU. Later that year, President Yanukovych and Prime Minister Azarov saw it fit to try and scuttle the association agreement in favou of closer ties to Russia. Thisset off the so-called Maidan revolution – with Messrs. Yanukovych and Azarov fleeing to Russia (don’t worry – the are now Russian citizens and live in lovely mansions in a fashionable area in Moscow).
Mr. Trump’s “perfect” 5 minute call https://edition.cnn.com/2019/09/25/politics/donald-trump-ukraine-transcript-call/index.html – our Politicians re always up in arms over “outside pressure”. Well. This is outside pressure to the point of extortion which is a Mob tactic, come to think of it). In the meantime, Mr. Giuliani was disbarred and generally in big legal trouble. Even Mr. Barr has turned on Mr Trump – accusing him of some rather nasty things.
Then the whole “hoax” discussion and Mueller – interesting (factual) piece:
https://www.csoonline.com/article/3482006/crowdstrike-ukraine-and-the-dnc-server-timeline-and-facts.html
Lastly – simple article on why you can have Russian as our first language and still identify as Ukrainian:
https://www.airuniversity.af.edu/Wild-Blue-Yonder/Article-Display/Article/2949512/are-the-russian-speakers-in-ukraine-on-putins-side/
Regarding @Norbert’s last paragraph: I have friends who identify as through and through Hungarians, and yet, their first language is Ukrainian. I also have friends (from a various number of countries) who are Hungarian (through and through) and yet their first language is English. I also have Polish friends who are Polish in every sense of the word, and their first language is also English, the list goes on.
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It never ceases to amaze me the kind of absolute rot that some people believe to be true (sincerely). Some would even go as far a to start a war with their fellow citizens over it. At times, I get the feeling that this very Government of ours is trying to shove the same kind of lies, and/or trash, down our throats, but even worse than that, some of our people fall for it, believe it as if it came from the Holy Bible.