And I ask the same questions every single day - why are Turkey and Hungary even in NATO and/or EU?? Apart from their geographical locations they appear to bring nothing to the table.
I've wondered about that as well given the problems that the EU is encountering in terms of Hungarian designs in extorting and/or aiding Russia. Slovakia is now in the mix. That said, two things about Hungary: 1. If Hungary comes out with something outrageous or blocks an initiative in the EU, it's not alone. It's usually the spokes-state for others as well. 2. you can't kick out a nation because of one leader. A whole nation of people are behind it as well as treaty obligations. What can be done is isolate it, and finding ways around it, which happened with aid to UA and the threat of withholding funds to Hungary just recently. Italy was totally isolated in the EU from 2018-2021 due to the red-brown govt under PM Conte. You can tell by the group photos taken during this period. I won't comment on Turkey because I don't know enough about it. However, yes, its location is fundamental to NATO in the east Mediterranean.
The one leader idea - you're absolutely right. One person doesn't necessarily reflect a nation. It's just that they're so . . . difficult. I forgot about the delayed funding to Hungary. Orban's visit to Trump-land was really just awful and that fact that he wouldn't meet with any of members of the current administration (nor with them at the Security Council meeting Munich) is such a two-faced move. Though at this point can we expect anything else from dignitaries willing to spend time at Mar a Lago? :(
And I ask the same questions every single day - why are Turkey and Hungary even in NATO and/or EU?? Apart from their geographical locations they appear to bring nothing to the table.
I've wondered about that as well given the problems that the EU is encountering in terms of Hungarian designs in extorting and/or aiding Russia. Slovakia is now in the mix. That said, two things about Hungary: 1. If Hungary comes out with something outrageous or blocks an initiative in the EU, it's not alone. It's usually the spokes-state for others as well. 2. you can't kick out a nation because of one leader. A whole nation of people are behind it as well as treaty obligations. What can be done is isolate it, and finding ways around it, which happened with aid to UA and the threat of withholding funds to Hungary just recently. Italy was totally isolated in the EU from 2018-2021 due to the red-brown govt under PM Conte. You can tell by the group photos taken during this period. I won't comment on Turkey because I don't know enough about it. However, yes, its location is fundamental to NATO in the east Mediterranean.
The one leader idea - you're absolutely right. One person doesn't necessarily reflect a nation. It's just that they're so . . . difficult. I forgot about the delayed funding to Hungary. Orban's visit to Trump-land was really just awful and that fact that he wouldn't meet with any of members of the current administration (nor with them at the Security Council meeting Munich) is such a two-faced move. Though at this point can we expect anything else from dignitaries willing to spend time at Mar a Lago? :(