Hungary’s loyalty issue could impact information sharing within NATO
NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg visited Hungary on Wednesday to discuss the contentious issues between Hungary and NATO with Prime Minister Viktor Orbán. However, Hungary’s loyalty to the alliance remains in question.
According to Telex, a Czech source familiar with Stoltenberg’s agenda told VSquare that two key topics were on the table during the Secretary General’s visit. One was the lifting of Hungary’s “firm veto” on former Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte’s bid for NATO Secretary General. The other was ensuring that Orbán would not block the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation’s latest Ukraine aid package, set to be agreed upon at the alliance summit in Washington, DC, in July.
Nato members may not share sensitive information with Hungary
Péter Szijjártó and NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg on 12 June 2024. Photo: Facebook/Szijjártó Péter
Behind the scenes, doubts about the Hungarian leadership’s allegiance have long led to restrictions on sharing information, particularly intelligence, with other NATO members. A NATO official in Brussels told VSquare that this means Hungary is receiving less information from its allies bilaterally. Additionally, less information is being shared between member states through central NATO channels because of Hungary.
“The problem is that the consequences are felt by all, as members share less sensitive intelligence information through the central channels of the alliance, knowing that Hungary is among the recipients,”
said the official, who spoke anonymously.
The source also stated that, instead of the previous practice, intelligence information is now shared in other groups where Hungary is not present. Hungarian officials are mostly unaware of these groups and that they are not invited. Moreover, it is not only military-related information that is being withheld.
Viktor Orbán and NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg on 12 June 2024.
MTI/Miniszterelnöki Sajtóiroda/Fischer Zoltán
“Even if we trust their senior intelligence officers, ultimately, if we share information with them, it may end up in reports that reach the desk of Orbán. Our problem is with the political leadership of the country,” said the former deputy head of the civilian intelligence agency of an EU country, explaining the practice of excluding the Hungarian side. VSquare’s Slovak partner, the Ján Kuciak Investigative Centre, has reported that allies have also restricted intelligence sharing with Slovakia since Robert Fico’s government came back to power last year.
As we previously reported, Viktor Orbán promised at a post-meeting press conference that Hungary would not block decisions on Ukraine supported by all other member states.
Read also:
Foreign Minister Szijjártó: NATO members view Ukraine war differently from Hungary – Read here
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4 Comments
It’s sickening that Hungary is so bad that it has a government who is considered disloyal to Europe and the NATO alliance. Orban and Fidesz were bought by Putin. They sold the country for money that goes into their pockets from all of the secret deals they make such as the secret 15 year oil and gas deal made in 2021 and the more recent Paks nuclear reactor deal. Hungary really needs to be kicked out of NATO because inside the organization it poses too much of a risk to the rest of Europe as a Russian ally.
It repulses me to write a commentary along the “tone” of this personal opinion, but the word TRUST – applied against the name Hungary, under the Leadership of it’s “present” Prime Minister – Victor Mihaly Orban, the Fidesz Government of Hungary – just reads that N.A.T.O – have no TRUST – which would be inclusive of RESPECT – of Hungary.
In ALL probability, the visit of the N.A.T.O. – Secretary General Jens Stoltenburg – was to convey to Victor Mihaly. Orban – a FIRM message under the word that Orban, his Fidesz Government have ABUSED in the European Union, that word is COMPLIANCE, that either Hungary comply – or it leaves N.A.T.O.
It’s either the Laws of N.A.T.O. alliance to be a member or LEAVE, just like the European Union – comply or leave or pay on-going – the WRATHS from the European Union, that rightly are being “heaved” at the Orban – Fidesz Government of Hungary.
Hungary don’t – Will Never have influence, nor change the Laws of N.A.T.O nor the European Union.
The DISTILLATION of DEMOCRACY in Hungary – he OWNS it – Victor Mihaly. Orban.
Reading the Telex article it seems that the NATO consensus is to strive for unity and keep Hungary in the organization yet exclude it from information and important meetings. The long-term goal obviously is that Hungary will eventually have a government which is loyal to NATO but you always have that risk that the Orban government is going do something to sabotage European security within the organization to suit Russia. It’s a terrible situation to allow to persist.
Out and done. Hungary wants to be controlled by Russia and China. Go for it.