The Druzhba oil pipeline, whose very name evokes the ideal of friendship, is now proving that names can lie. Once a symbol of cross-border energy cooperation, the pipeline is today at the center of a high-stakes geopolitical struggle in which “friendship” seems to have evaporated entirely. Hungary, long dependent on Russian crude oil flowing through the pipeline, is now raising the alarm-and the stakes-over its future energy security. The twist? European Union officials appear remarkably unconcerned, leaving Budapest to consider measures normally reserved for far graver threats, including the deployment of its military to protect what is effectively a vital lifeline.

Critics of Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán have been quick to suggest that his push for military involvement is politically motivated. With the April national election looming, some argue that he may be seeking to portray himself as a decisive protector of national interests, even dipping into authoritarian tactics to consolidate power. Yet such criticism misses a critical point: the pipeline is under real, active threat. Ukrainian intelligence services-the SBU-have reportedly targeted parts of the pipeline infrastructure with drone strikes, including a Russian pumping station serving the Druzhba system, as recently as February 23. Far from the realm of political theater, these attacks represent a tangible risk to Hungary’s energy supply and to the wider Central European energy network.

What is striking-and frankly frustrating-is the European Union’s apparent passivity. For years, Brussels has embraced a policy of reducing reliance on Russian energy, often at the expense of member states like Hungary and Slovakia that remain heavily dependent on pipelines transiting Ukraine. Yet now, faced with an actual disruption, the EU’s response is lukewarm at best. EU officials have essentially shrugged and said, in effect, “It’s up to Ukraine if they want to fix it.” After all, Ukraine owes the EU billions in financial and military support. But when it comes to the basic matter of ensuring that energy infrastructure is maintained, suddenly Brussels claims its hands are tied.

Hungary’s frustration is understandable. Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó has likened dealing with Ukraine over the pipeline to a beleaguered........

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