Diplomacy - Hungary cancels Baerbock trip at short notice
A trip planned by Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock of Germany for Monday to Budapest does not take place. The Hungarian side suddenly cancelled the meeting with Baerbock and Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto, as confirmed by the Foreign Office in the evening. The trip is to be made up for at a later date. The German side regretted the cancellation. "A serious and sincere personal conversation between both foreign ministers would have been important in light of the unexpected and uncoordinated Moscow visit by Prime Minister Orban," the Foreign Office said.
Hungary took over the rotating EU Council Presidency on July 1st. Prime Minister Viktor Orban provoked the EU and NATO partners on Friday with an unsanctioned visit to Russian President Vladimir Putin. EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen made it clear that she sees Orban's solo action as a threat to the credibility of the European Union. Federal Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) made it clear that Orban traveled to Putin as Hungary's prime minister and not as the EU's foreign policy representative.
- Despite the cancellation of Annalena Baerbock's trip to Budapest, a rescheduled meeting is anticipated between the German and Hungarian foreign ministers.
- The Hungarian decision to cancel the meeting with Baerbock and Szijjarto was announced following Budapest's takeover of the rotating EU Council Presidency on July 1st.
- Annalena Baerbock expressed regret over the cancellation, emphasizing the importance of a personal conversation in light of Viktor Orban's uncoordinated visit to Russian President Vladimir Putin.
- Russia's involvement in the Hungarian-EU tensions extended to the diplomacy realm, with the EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen viewing Orban's solo action as a threat to the European Union's credibility.
- The controversy surrounding Prime Minister Orban's trip to Russia sparked criticism from Germany's Federal Chancellor Olaf Scholz, who underlined that Orban represented Hungary, not the EU, during his visit.
- The unexpected conflicts between Hungary and Europe, led by Germany, have stirred tendencies toward a potential worsening of relations between EU members and their neighboring nations, such as Russia.
