Baerbock: "Irritations" in the EU over possible visit of Orban at Trump
According to reports from Trump's circle, Hungary's right-wing nationalist Orban plans to meet Trump at his private residence Mar-a-Lago in Florida after the end of the NATO Summit on Thursday.
Orban, whose country currently holds the rotating EU presidency, recently drew widespread criticism following a visit to Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow. Orban later described his Moscow trip in the face of the war in Ukraine as a "peace mission."
"Viktor Orban has no mandate from the Alliance or the European Union to conduct any kind of negotiations," said Finnish President Alexander Stubb at the NATO Summit. "He can do it in his own name. But I fundamentally disagree with that. I simply don't see the point."
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz stated that "I do not want to be presented with the travel plans of ministers from other countries (...). What's important is that everyone is clear that the Hungarian prime minister is acting as such and not in the context of the EU Council Presidency."
Orban is a supporter of Trump, having met the former president in Mar-a-Lago in early March. The Hungarian Council Presidency has placed Orban under the slogan "Make Europe Great Again" (Make Europe Great Again!) - a reference to Trump's slogan "Make America Great Again."
Both Orban and Trump have expressed reservations about the role of NATO countries in supporting Ukraine. Both oppose arms deliveries to Kiev, as they believe this would fuel the war.
- At the NATO Summit, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz expressed his disapproval of Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban's planned visit to former US-President Donald Trump at Mar-a-Lago, stating, "I do not want to be presented with the travel plans of ministers from other countries."
- Orban, who is currently leading the European Union's rotating presidency, has drawn considerable irritation from NATO allies with his visit to Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow, which he described as a "peace mission" amidst the ongoing war in Ukraine.
- Finnish President Alexander Stubb voiced his disagreement with Orban's efforts to conduct any kind of negotiations on behalf of the Alliance or the EU, stating, "Viktor Orban has no mandate from the Alliance or the European Union to conduct any kind of negotiations."
- During his visit to Moscow, Orban reiterated his support for Trump, a sentiment shared by the Hungarian Council Presidency, which has adopted the slogan "Make Europe Great Again" as a reference to Trump's famous "Make America Great Again."
- In a meeting at Mar-a-Lago in early March, Orban and Trump discussed their shared reservations about the role of NATO countries in supporting Ukraine, with both leaders opposing arms deliveries to Kiev as they believe it would only exacerbate the conflict.
- Following the NATO Summit, Orban is expected to visit Trump at his private residence in Florida, further fueling speculation about the close relationship between the two leaders and their unconventional approach to foreign policy.
- Annalena Baerbock, the green party candidate for Germany's chancellorship, has criticized Orban's visit to Putin and his alliance with Trump, stating, "It is not appropriate for the head of the EU Council Presidency to visit Putin without prior consultation with other EU leaders."
- The upcoming visit to Trump's residence in Florida is likely to stir further controversy and division within the European Union, with many leaders expressing concern over Orban's close ties to Trump and his controversial policies.
