Viktor Orban helps Russia and hurts America on Ukraine
Tom Rogan
Video Embed
It is understandable that many conservatives find appeal in Viktor Orban‘s promotion of strong borders and pro-family policies. Still, the prime minister of Hungary regularly reminds us that he is no friend of America.
The latest reminder came early on Friday morning when Orban blocked a $55 billion European Union aid package for Ukraine. That package was supported by 26 EU member states and opposed by just one, Hungary. It is, of course, Hungary’s right to pursue whatever foreign policy its leaders desire. Orban retains a significant parliamentary majority. His cronyism and corruption aside, he is a democratically vested leader.
MELANIA TRUMP COULD GIVE HUSBAND’S CAMPAIGN A BOOST WITH APPEARANCE AT THE NATIONAL ARCHIVES
However, by blocking this aid provision, Orban worsens an already challenging situation for Ukraine as it continues to resist Russia’s invasion.
Ukraine’s democratic survival and defeat of Russia’s invasion represent an important strategic interest for the United States. If Democrats are willing to concede necessary U.S.-Mexico border security reforms, the U.S. should keep supporting Ukraine. Nevertheless, the top line is that the U.S. needs Europe to do more for Ukraine. This is the only way that the U.S. will be able to reprioritize its resources toward deterring China in the Pacific.
That matters because China is presently engaged in action against the Philippines (a treaty U.S. defense ally) that falls just short of direct armed aggression. A near-term conflict in the South China Sea is a distinct possibility. And that’s before we even start thinking about the longer-term threat China poses to Taiwan. That brings us back to Hungary, the EU, and Ukraine.
CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER
The EU is wealthy, and Ukraine’s survival is of more direct strategic consequence to its interests than those of the U.S. The same principle applies in reverse to the Pacific. Put simply, the U.S. needs its European allies to do more for Ukraine on a more urgent basis. Orban is obstructing that development.
It’s just another example of Orban’s policy support of Chinese and Russian interests at the expense of his nominal allies. In action and rhetoric, Orban is Xi Jinping and Vladimir Putin’s closest partner in the EU. That’s fine. But we shouldn’t pretend Orban is an American ally.