Moscow Poses No Threat to NATO Countries - Hungarian Foreign Minister

© REUTERS / Ints KalninsGerman soldiers attend a ceremony to welcome the German battalion being deployed to Lithuania as part of NATO deterrence measures against Russia in Rukla, Lithuania February 7, 2017
German soldiers attend a ceremony to welcome the German battalion being deployed to Lithuania as part of NATO deterrence measures against Russia in Rukla, Lithuania February 7, 2017 - Sputnik International
Subscribe
Hungary does not consider Moscow to be a threat to NATO states, though it respects the position of other countries, like Poland or the Baltic states, which see Russia as an existential threat to them, Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto told RIA Novosti.

The Alexandrov Academic Ensemble of Song and Dance of the Russian Army performs at the opening ceremony of the 3rd CISM World Military Winter Games - Sputnik International
Russia
'Friendship and Comfort': Military Athletes from NATO Countries Compete in Sochi
MOSCOW (Sputnik) — Last week, Russia's Permanent Representative to NATO Alexander Grushko called for the alliance’s cooperation with Russia as that would help in the fight against global terrorism, adding that NATO must strive to build meaningful dialogue with Moscow and reconsider its policy of deterrence. Grushko stressed that Moscow could not view NATO as a potential partner while the alliance stuck to its Warsaw summit decision not to cooperate with Russia.

"With the Baltic countries and Poland actually we have different approaches towards Russia, it's obvious. We don't see Russia as an existential threat to Hungary. They see Russia as an existential threat to their countries. We don't criticize that, we don't judge that. We respect this position but this is a different approach. I don't want to judge them because they are our allies and this is their country, their life, their mindset… I can tell you, me as a Hungarian, I don't think Russia would be a threat," Szijjarto said.

Donald Trump CPAC Speech - Sputnik International
Trump Wants to Boost Defense Spending in New Budget

He added that the NATO expansion had "nothing to do with Russia," adding that he had always called for cooperation with Russia, stressing that dialogue was necessary for a more stable and secure world.

"When I take part on MFA's meeting at NATO, I usually hear two expressions — deterrence and dialogue. I really try to push towards dialogue because my understanding is that for the security of the whole world there must be a proper dialogue between the NATO and Russia. My position is that without dialogue between NATO and Russia the world can be a more dangerous place than current," Szijjarto said.

Since 2014, after Crimea rejoined Russia, NATO has been increasing its military presence in Eastern Europe, using the countries’ vulnerability to alleged Russian aggression as a pretext. Moscow has repeatedly criticized the increased presence of the alliance’s troops and military facilities close to the Russian borders.

Newsfeed
0
To participate in the discussion
log in or register
loader
Chats
Заголовок открываемого материала