Hungarian Prime Minister warns NATO is straying from its original defensive purpose, potentially risking self-destruction

In his editorial in Newsweek (USA) on July 5, at the time of his visit to Russia, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban said that the increasing escalation of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) would lead to a direct military confrontation with Russia, causing catastrophic consequences.

Hungarian Prime Minister warns NATO is straying from its original defensive purpose and is at risk of self-destruction. (Source: Newsweek)

“NATO is approaching a crucial moment,” Mr. Orban began. “It is important to remember that the most successful military alliance in world history began as a peace project, and its future success depends on its ability to maintain peace. But today, instead of peace, the agenda is to pursue war; instead of defense, it is offense. All of this is contrary to NATO’s founding values. Hungary’s historical experience shows that such transformations never lead to a good direction. The task today is to maintain the alliance as a peace project.”

Referring to the latest trends regarding NATO, Prime Minister Orban said that NATO today is moving away from its original purpose, instead pursuing an agenda focused on steps that escalate tensions. He said that if this trend continues, NATO will gradually go to the point of self-destruction. He noted that some member states have recently considered the possibility of deploying a NATO operation in Ukraine.

In late February 2024, French President Emmanuel Macron announced that he did not rule out the possibility of deploying French troops to Ukraine. By May, Estonia and Lithuania had signaled their readiness to send troops to Ukraine to carry out logistical and other non-combat missions.

Hungary officially assumed the rotating presidency of the European Union (EU) from July 1 and will last until the end of 2024. In this position, the country has put forward the slogan "Make Europe Great Again".

On July 5, Prime Minister Orban made a surprise visit to Moscow and met with Russian President Vladimir Putin. The two leaders focused on discussing potential options for a peaceful resolution to the conflict in Ukraine. Prime Minister Orban assessed that the positions of Moscow and Kiev were still "very different", but affirmed that he would continue to make efforts to contact the parties to resolve the conflict through peaceful means.

The Hungarian prime minister, widely seen as having the warmest relationship with Vladimir Putin among all EU leaders, has frequently blocked, delayed or watered down EU efforts to support Kiev and impose sanctions on Moscow. He has long argued for a cessation of hostilities in Ukraine.

That attitude has frustrated Hungary's EU and NATO allies, who see Russia's actions as a violation of international law and a threat to the security of Eastern European countries.

Mr Orbán said he told President Putin that “Europe needs peace”, and asked him about current peace plans and whether he believed a ceasefire could take place before any potential peace talks.

In a statement after the meeting, Mr. Putin reiterated an earlier demand that Ukraine withdraw its troops from four regions that Russia claims to have annexed by 2022 as a condition for peace talks. Ukraine and its Western allies have rejected that demand, saying it amounts to asking Ukraine to withdraw from Ukrainian territory.

The two leaders also discussed bilateral relations and Mr Putin said they exchanged views on the current state of Russia-EU relations "which are currently at their lowest point".

Prime Minister Orban's visit to Moscow comes three days after he visited the Ukrainian capital Kiev and met with President Volodymyr Zelensky, where he affirmed his support for negotiations and an immediate ceasefire.

Source: https://baoquocte.vn/thu-tuong-hungary-canh-bao-nato-roi-xa-muc-dich-phong-thu-ban-dau-kha-nang-roi-vao-nguy-co-tu-diet-vong-277817.html