Hungary Backs European Defense Initiatives but Rejects Joint Borrowing
BUDAPEST (Reuters) - Hungary should take part in common European defence policy and contribute funds to it, but should not agree to joint borrowing by the European Union, Prime Minister Viktor Orban told state radio on Friday, ahead of an EU summit next week.
European leaders backed plans last week to spend more on defence amid fears that Russia, emboldened by its war in Ukraine, may attack an EU country next and that Europe can no longer rely on the U.S. to come to its aid.
On Monday, EU finance ministers began discussing how to pay for defence through new joint borrowing, existing EU funds and a greater role for the European Investment Bank, with a view to taking decisions in June.
"We should take part in joint defense efforts, in common defense policy, and contribute financially to collective defense, but under no circumstances should we do so through joint borrowing," Orban said.
Orban said he expected a big debate at the summit and that he would ask the Hungarian parliament to take a stance on the issue that would equip him with a mandate for the meeting.
Orban, a Trump ally, who is also cultivating ties with Moscow, has refused to send weapons to Ukraine since the start of the war and said that instead of prolonging the war, Europe should support Trump's peace talks.
(Reporting by Krisztina Than and Anita Komuves; Editing by Sharon Singleton)
