Orban called the idea of increasing NATO spending a shot in the lungs for Hungary

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban said on Saturday, December 21, that U.S. President-elect Donald Trump's desire to ask NATO countries to increase defense spending by 5 percent of GDP would be a killer for Budapest.

"If the issue of this is put on the agenda, I will be in the camp of those who will treat it with extreme apprehension. <...> If you raise more than 2%, it's a shot in the lungs of the Hungarian economy," the politician said during a year-end conference in Budapest. His words are quoted by RIA Novosti.

Orban noted that Hungary's achievement of the defense spending target of 2% of GDP has already required considerable effort and sacrifice.

On the eve of the Financial Times reported that the new U.S. President will require NATO member states to increase defense spending to 5% of GDP, and he plans to continue to provide military assistance to Ukraine.

Earlier, on December 9, Orban met with Trump and entrepreneur Ilon Musk at the Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida. During the meeting, the issue of increasing NATO defense spending was not raised.