The Hungarian government has decided to deploy military personnel to safeguard a section of the Turkish Stream gas pipeline after reports of a suspected sabotage attempt in Serbia. This action follows a security meeting convened by Prime Minister Viktor Orbán.
In a video statement shared on Facebook, Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó detailed the discussions from the meeting, indicating that Orbán has ordered military protection for the pipeline. The military will oversee the pipeline’s entire length, extending from the Serbian-Hungarian border to the Hungarian-Slovak border.
Szijjártó mentioned that he had conversations with the energy ministers of Serbia, Turkey, and Russia, all of whom concurred that the pipeline requires heightened security measures. This decision comes in the wake of a reported incident on April 5, when Serbian authorities announced they had discovered large packages containing explosives and detonators near the pipeline.
Prior to this incident, Hungary had already increased security measures for its energy infrastructure, citing a perceived threat from Ukraine. In response, Serbia has also mobilized its military to protect the gas supply lines to Hungary. The situation has led to speculation, with Szijjártó hinting at possible Ukrainian involvement in the alleged sabotage attempt, a claim that has been firmly denied by the Ukrainian government.
Additionally, opposition leader Péter Mándy of the Tisza party has suggested that the reported sabotage could be a staged operation aimed at disrupting upcoming elections in Hungary.
Hungary has announced the deployment of military forces to protect a section of the Turkish Stream gas pipeline following an alleged sabotage attempt in Serbia. The move reflects heightened security concerns amid regional tensions and has prompted discussions among energy ministers from Hungary, Serbia, Turkey, and Russia regarding the pipeline's security.
Source: Європейська правда