The Prime Minister of Hungary, which from today is hosting the biggest international sports event of the year, will host the leaders of Serbia, Turkey, Qatar and a number of Central Asian countries.
Viktor Orbán, a self-proclaimed advocate of "illiberal democracy" who takes an aggressive stance towards Western partners, is planning a number of bilateral meetings in the coming days as Budapest hosts the 2023 World Athletics Championships.
During the nine-day athletic event, Orban will talk with the emir of Qatar and the presidents of Turkey, Azerbaijan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan, as well as the leaders of Serbia and Republika Srpska, the Associated Press (AP) reported.
In an interview on state radio yesterday, Orbán described the leaders as "political friends" of Hungary and said the athletics championship would be a forum for bilateral meetings, as well as talks with business people from around the world, including China.
"If there is a major world event, then that country invites its friends," Orban said, adding that such events are "a more or less secret series of diplomatic meetings."
The list of dignitaries reflects Orban's desire to increase diplomatic and political cooperation with autocracies in the Balkans and in Asia, according to AP.
Orban, who has been in power since 2010, is pursuing an "Eastern Opening" diplomatic strategy that relies heavily on partnerships and trade agreements with countries such as Russia and China.
Hungary, unlike its neighbors in Central and Eastern Europe, maintained close ties with Moscow after the start of the invasion of Ukraine, increasing supplies of Russian gas and oil and refusing to help Ukraine with weapons or allow their transfer across the shared border.
This attitude, as well as years of alleged violations of the rule of law and the decline of democracy, have largely isolated Hungary among its European and American partners, leading to the freezing of billions of euros in European funds and sanctions from Washington.
Orban's most important meeting will be with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, with whom he will discuss security, defense and economic cooperation.
Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijarto said at yesterday's press conference that most of Orban's meetings this week will focus on securing natural gas supplies to Hungary from Qatar, Azerbaijan and several Central Asian countries.
However, Orban's most important meeting will be with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, with whom he will discuss security, defense and economic cooperation, according to a statement from his cabinet.
Turkey and Hungary are the only NATO members that have not ratified Sweden's bid to join the military alliance. The Hungarian government has announced that it will reconsider the issue at the next session of the parliament, which is scheduled for the end of September.
Orban will also meet with the leader of Republika Srpska, Milorad Dodik, who is under US and Great Britain sanctions.
Sijarto said yesterday that these sanctions are "very serious efforts by the West to deny the democratically elected leaders of the Bosnian Serb community."
The President of Serbia, Aleksandar Vučić, will pay a two-day visit to Hungary on August 19 and 20, during which he will attend the ceremonies marking the Hungarian Statehood Day and the opening of the athletics championship, his office announced.
Vučić said yesterday that he will talk to Erdogan at the meeting in Budapest and noted that it is "important for Serbia to have the best possible relations with Turkey".
He stated for Serbian Radio and Television that the two countries have "correct, decent relations", but that it is true that the Turkish shipment of weapons to Pristina is "something that spoiled our relations", which he discussed with Erdogan on the phone in an "honest, open way".
"I believe that this (meeting) will be a further step in the direction of improving our relations and that we will soon be able to host President Erdogan in Belgrade," said Vučić.
Vučić expects the pressure to intensify
Vučić said that the writings of foreign media, such as CNN's analysis in which the American media reports that he "laughs in the face of the West", is "preparation and campaign for what follows from next week".
"I expect great and heavy pressure regarding the sanctions against the Russian Federation, probably the hardest so far... After all, you can see that a circle is slowly being formed in Serbia, they are trying to isolate me so that I remain alone... Look at the media, everyone has become Americans or Russians, there are no more Serbs anywhere," said Vučić.
He told RTS that the goal is to force Serbia to change its policy.
Asked if Serbia could be isolated if it does not introduce sanctions, Vučić said that he has been "listening to these stories for 10 years", whenever Serbia opposes something from the West.
"Serbia has never been isolated, nor can you isolate it, because we lead a serious, responsible and smart policy and that is nonsense."
Bonus video:
