In a move that has raised eyebrows across Europe, Hungary's top diplomat recently visited Belarus to discuss expanding ties between the two countries. Despite the European Union's sanctions against Belarus, Hungarian Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó emphasized the importance of cooperation over sanctions, stating that 'the fewer sanctions, the more cooperation!'
The EU imposed sanctions on Belarus in response to the government's crackdown on protests following the disputed 2020 presidential election. Belarus faced further isolation after allowing Russian troops to use its territory to invade Ukraine in 2022.
Szijjártó expressed Hungary's commitment to increasing economic cooperation with Belarus in areas unaffected by sanctions, highlighting a new agreement on nuclear energy cooperation. This agreement aims to leverage Belarus' experience in nuclear technology for Hungary's Paks nuclear facility expansion project.
Belarusian Foreign Minister Sergei Aleinik welcomed Hungary's upcoming EU presidency, hoping it would promote positive developments in Europe. Aleinik emphasized the need for dialogue and de-escalation in the region.
Despite criticism from Belarusian opposition leader Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, who condemned the visit as 'unacceptable and immoral,' Szijjártó defended the trip as an opportunity to foster dialogue and cooperation.
The visit comes amid ongoing concerns about human rights abuses in Belarus, with thousands of political prisoners, including Nobel laureate Ales Bialiatski, detained by the government. The opposition continues to call for international pressure on Belarus to address these issues.
As Hungary seeks to strengthen ties with Belarus, the diplomatic engagement between the two countries raises questions about the EU's united stance on sanctions and the broader implications for European relations.
