Europe’s Rebel Leader Woos Germany to Profit From Arms Race
- Rheinmetall is building tank and ammunition plants in Hungary
- Orban is eying the defense industry as a boost to the economy
Viktor Orban, Hungary's prime minister.
Photographer: Valeria Mongelli/BloombergThis article is for subscribers only.
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban refused to send weapons to Ukraine after Russia’s invasion, saying he didn’t want his country to be dragged into a war. Last month, he hit out at the German government for agreeing to dispatch tanks.
But that’s not stopping the European Union’s populist-in-chief from trying to turn Hungary into a weapons hub to profit from what’s become one of the most lucrative industries in Europe. And that means deepening ties with corporate Germany, even as he needles politicians in Berlin.