Before the First World War, it is said that no one wanted war, yet it happened. After a while, it is probably impossible to prevent the escalation of events, so good measures must be taken before that.
The United States and NATO have gone too far in Ukraine. It is in the geopolitical interest of the Russians that there are no serious security risks under the country's European belly. The USA has been pulling the coat of the big bear for twenty years, but you should know that it is not playing with a little excuse. Away from their own land, the Yankees like to play war - but this brings immeasurable suffering and instability in the given region, see Vietnam or Iraq.
The Russians withdrew from Central Europe in 1991 by considering the countries of the CIS (with one or two exceptions, the former Soviet Union) as their areas of interest. Obviously, Moscow tried and is trying to save its role as a great power, even if the bipolar world order is already a thing of the past! The Warsaw Pact has ended, but NATO has remained and expanded, raising the protective umbrella of a defense alliance over its members.
BUT, it is not a military organization of an offensive nature, and its members - primarily the former socialist countries - do not want to participate in a possible military conflict in this way, especially here near the border.
Unfortunately, the realities of great powers must be taken into account. Hungary (like it or not) is still a ferry country on the border between West and East. Yes, we have to go here and there to assert our interests and maintain our sovereignty, from a geopolitical, economic and cultural point of view.
The Russian wish for NATO to withdraw from Eastern Europe is obviously an exaggeration, but this region should not be a forward base for the United States either. The Atlantic alliance should step back a bit and give up trying to provoke a conflict in Ukraine. Politicians have to make smart compromises to calm the deepening mistrust.
When Donald Trump opened his presidency with the idea that the United States primarily had to do things at home and not in the outside world, it proved to be a good paradigm, war tensions decreased at all levels. The Islamic State was "tamed", the Iraqi withdrawal took place, even the Persians remained calm.
Now that the democrats have come to power, they are threatening the world again, they already want to export their democracy as a slightly damaged commodity, i.e. the acquisition of economic and military influence.
And Putin is toughening up. The poker game is on - raise the stakes! He seems to have the right cards, just think of Europe's energy dependence.
Restoring the balance is Hungary's main interest.
Navigare necesse est!
Featured image: hajozas.hu
