The Strangeness of Poland's infatuation with Hungary

By infiltrating and influencing Hungary, Russia can act against Polish interests with impunity, knowing that Poland is unlikely to react strongly against a supposed ally.

When I look at the Polish-Hungarian relationship, I am a Frenchman, because it makes no sense to me.

For a Frenchman, the Polish view of Hungarian-Polish relations can be quite perplexing. This relationship, often hailed as an exemplary bond between nations, is rooted in a complex history of mutual support that might seem unusual from a French perspective, but the Frenchman fails to understand how this could still be relevant today.

The paradox of Polish admiration for Hungary and disdain for France is also hard to understand. Poles often commend Hungarians for their “loyalty” during World War II, notably for refusing Hitler's demand to attack Poland. However, this admiration seems incongruous when contrasted with the 100,000 French soldiers who perished in 1940. The irony lies in valuing Hungary's dubious wartime stance (to say the least) while disparaging France's sacrifice because it was not made the way it should have been…