Putin-Orban alliance

The Russian President Vladimir Putin and his close ally Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban met after a long pause on the sidelines of China’s sponsored global Belt and Road Forum (BRF) in recent days. Long standing friends from two opposing blocs reiterated their continued support for their strong bilateral ties which their nations enjoyed over the past months despite continuing geopolitical tensions between European Union and NATO with their eternal competitor due to the war in Ukraine.

The Hungarian far-right nationalist leader has a unique personality like his dear friend and former US President Donald J. Trump. Both Statesmen often treat their foes like friends and react to their friends like enemies irrespective of the sensitivity or need of the situation. This personality might play as a great advantage to individuals but presumably is a big disadvantage for the nations they represent globally. Interestingly, Hungary, a permanent member of the European Union and NATO military alliance, played a unique role under Mr. Orban during the one and a half year long war in Ukraine. Budapest has not only blocked weapons from passing through its territory to reach Ukraine but deepened energy ties with Moscow despite EU’s strict sanctions on Russian oil, gas and commodities. Similarly, Orban’s Hungary is a stern opponent of Ukraine’s addition into the European Union and playing on behalf of Moscow to foil Kiev’s bid to join the western bloc amid intensifying rivalry with Russia.

Presently, the Hungarian leader is in Beijing to attend the Belt and Road Forum, the magnificent Chinese initiative aimed at sabotaging US and Western influence in most parts of the world. Smart Orban is focused on getting monetary and economic incentives from both competing blocs, however his stern opposition to West’s war in Ukraine and advocacy for removal of western sanctions against Russia clearly exposes his fringe motives to the world. In fact, the Russian President has cultivated a mole in the heart of Europe, who is tactfully pursuing Moscow’s agenda in the garb of nationalism. After all, Putin has employed the West’s policy of divide and deal against Europe and outcomes of Putin-Orban alliance would be crystal clear in the future.