A large number of EU resolutions on Ukraine are being blocked by Hungary, said Lithuanian Foreign Minister Gabrielius Landsbergis.
Hungary is digging in and refusing to wave through billions in military aid for Ukraine, prompting growing dismay among other EU countries.
"I have to calm myself [when] I talk about this issue, because it’s getting really ridiculous now,” a senior EU diplomat said of the standoff with Hungary, speaking before Monday’s meeting of EU foreign ministers. “What’s happening is outrageous.”
Diplomats had hoped to have a new €6.6 billion package ready ahead of this week’s meetings of foreign and defense ministers in Brussels. The deal included €860 million for arms procurement, reported by POLITICO last week.
It started out as an alliance of western European states, the US and Canada in the aftermath of WWII. At that point, they were pretty sure nothing unexpected was going to happen soon, and I doubt they saw it as anything more than a gentleman’s agreement that could easily be broken off. It’s evolved into the military arm of the collective West slowly and probably mostly recently.
Turkey was added (along with Greece) in the 50’s, probably on the basis of being a weak nation, easily commanded, that they didn’t want to fall to the Soviets. Hungary on the other hand was added after the Cold War, in the period where the West thought that it was the end of history and they didn’t even have to try, everything would magically go great.
Nope: The Bosporus. Turkey isn’t weak the last time that happened was in anticipation of the fall of the Ottoman empire, they don’t take orders from anyone but OTOH their general geopolitical stance is very much NATO-compatible so they’re a match. Do take note of how Turkey played the whole Sweden/Finland accession thing to get its regular concessions for the Bosporus but without actually damaging anything – they know how to rock the boat without drilling holes. Bit dramatic but, well, they’re southerners. Greece needed to join at the same time as Turkey otherwise there would’ve been war between the two because Ouzo or Raki or something.
Hmm. Well, Greece at least ended up being a banana republic for a while. Having those straits is huge, though, you’re right.