I think Russia is not strong enough to represent a real threat to us, we are far stronger – Orban
In a recent report by Al Jazeera News, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban has once again broken ranks with NATO allies by downplaying the threat posed by Russia, saying he does not share the widespread concern that Moscow could launch an attack on NATO territory by the end of the decade.
Speaking to reporters at a NATO summit in Brussels, Orban said he does not believe Russia currently has the strength to endanger the alliance.
“I think Russia is not strong enough to represent a real threat to us, we are far stronger, Orban said, brushing aside the warnings voiced by other European leaders.
The comments come at a time when many NATO members, particularly in Eastern Europe, have been ramping up their defense spending and military preparedness amid fears of potential Russian aggression following the war in Ukraine. U.S. and European intelligence agencies have warned that Russia may seek to test NATO’s resolve within the next five to ten years.
Orban’s stance, however, reflects his ongoing policy of maintaining warmer relations with Moscow, a position that has repeatedly drawn criticism from other EU and NATO allies.
He is widely considered Russian President Vladimir Putin’s closest ally in Europe and has often opposed sanctions on Russia while advocating for diplomatic engagement instead.
At the summit, other NATO leaders, including those from Poland, the Baltic states, and Germany, expressed concern over Russia’s military posture and cyber capabilities, urging unity and vigilance within the alliance.
Orban’s remarks were seen as undermining that unified front.
Despite Orban’s position, NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg emphasized the importance of collective defense and deterrence, noting that every NATO ally has the right to assess threats as they see them, but our collective responsibility remains clear.
Hungary’s refusal to fully align with NATO’s stance on Russia continues to raise questions about its long-term commitment to the alliance’s security priorities.
While Budapest remains a full NATO member, its close ties with Moscow and frequent dissent have made it an outlier in Europe’s post-Ukraine war strategic landscape.
