Orban: Hungary avoided Kosovo war by saying 'no' to Clinton

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban has stated that his country avoided being drawn into the 1999 Kosovo War by refusing a request from U.S. President Bill Clinton. In a video posted online, Orban recounted receiving a call from Clinton in 1999, during his first term as premier, asking Hungary to open a military front against Serbia.

The 1999 request and refusal

Orban detailed that the request involved Hungary launching a southern offensive through Serbia's Vojvodina region toward Belgrade. "If we had had a prime minister back then who only knew how to say 'Yes, sir' then you would have been in that war up to your neck," he asserted. The Hungarian leader, then 36, said he declined the proposal. He noted the issue was never raised again at a subsequent NATO summit in Washington.

A lesson in sovereign decision-making

The prime minister framed the historical anecdote as a lesson in national courage and independence. "It is possible to say no if you have the courage to do so," Orban emphasized. He has cultivated a political identity centered on asserting Hungarian sovereignty, often positioning himself at odds with broader European Union and NATO consensus on various issues, including migration and foreign policy.

Parallels to current foreign policy

Orban's narrative directly parallels his current foreign policy stance, particularly his government's continued opposition to providing military aid to Ukraine. He argues such support prolongs conflict, maintaining that Hungary's national interest requires a firm, independent stance, even when it contradicts requests from powerful allies. The story reinforces his long-standing political messaging about the necessity of defending national interests.