TRUMP-PUTIN MEETING IN BUDAPEST - A NEW POLITICAL DIRTY TRICK

 

TRUMP – PUTIN IN BUDAPEST

Another political dirty trick

 

Of course, it is always good that people talk to each other instead of waging war against one another. But when Trump and Putin agreed yesterday to meet in a couple of weeks, well, we know that it will be another opportunity for Putin to drag Trump around by his egocentric nose!

The politically interesting – and embarrassing – thing is that the meeting will take place in Budapest. I hope they will also have time to lay a wreath at the memorial for the Russians' bloody invasion of Hungary in 1956 ☹

Why Budapest? There are several reasons for that. One is that it is one of the very few countries in Europe where Putin can come without being arrested – after his verdict at the International War Crimes Tribunal in The Hague a few years ago. Switzerland is the other country that has given him the green light for a visit despite the verdict.

The second – and more important – reason is that both Russia and Trump have praised Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán in very positive tones on many occasions, because he is, among other things, against the West's help for Ukraine and in many areas is directly against the values ​​that the EU stands for. Even though the country has been a full member of the EU since 2004 – and is the member state that benefits most economically from being in the EU. Now it has happened that the opposition in Hungary, led by Peter Magyar, is leading in the opinion polls in the country. Orbán has fallen to number 2. There will be parliamentary elections in Hungary on April 3 next year. So, both the Russians and Trump will do everything they can to support Orbán. That is why they have naturally agreed to meet in Budapest. Russian interference in other countries' elections is nothing new. They always do it. But for Trump this is part of his new ongoing strategy. In Germany, he openly supported the extreme right-wing party AfD before the last election. In England, he unabashedly supports Nigel Farage and his populists.

In Poland, he and his people organized a large meeting in a Polish city for right-wing forces from most of the world just before the presidential election. And in Argentina, there are midterm elections on October 26. Here, Trump has just announced in unequivocal terms that if the incumbent ultra-right and ultra-populist President Milei does not win, the United States will withdraw all of its major support for the country. In Brazil, the same Trump has threatened extra high tariffs on the country's large exports to the United States if the trial of the former right-wing president Bolsonaro for corruption and coup plans is not dropped. He has nevertheless been sentenced to 27 years in prison. Yes, and in the Israeli parliament, Trump this week called on the Israeli president to grant Netanyahu amnesty for the serious corruption charges that have been brought against him.

 

By the way, since he is soon in Hungary, Trump will have the opportunity to repeat his demand that Hungary also stops importing Russian oil. He said this clearly recently. Nevertheless, Hungarian imports from Russia have increased. Together with Slovakia, they import around 200,000 to 250,000 barrels of Russian oil – per day! Does Trump remember to repeat his clear demand to his Hungarian friend?

Let's see what the meeting in Budapest brings. I will eat my old hat that the US will not deliver Patriot missiles to Ukraine. The Americans had more than hinted that they would. Putin is of course against this. And after yesterday's long phone call, Trump already announced that the US itself needs these missiles. At least he understands most of what Putin is telling him – and demanding.

No – there is only one way forward in the war between Russia and Ukraine, which is vital to all of us. Russia is the aggressor. Russia has constantly given arguments for this attack, which are completely out of the woods. Russia has so far lost about 1 million soldiers – most of them from remote regions in Siberia – and from North Korea. Russia is on its knees economically and in terms of supplies.

 

We must all step up and make our help for the attacked Ukrainians even better and even more intelligent. I would like to give my specific proposal for this in due course!

 

Niels Jørgen Thøgersen

email: niels4europe@gmail.com