Hungarian authorities boycotted a delegation of US senators visiting the country

A bipartisan delegation of US senators made an official visit to the Hungarian capital on Sunday, February 18, and called on the government to immediately approve Sweden’s application to join NATO. But all members of the government declined the offer to meet with the senators, reports The Washington Post.

It was noted that Democratic Senator Jeanne Shaheen expressed “disappointment” that no member of the Hungarian government accepted the invitation to meet with the delegation, but that she “hopes and hopes” that Sweden’s entry into NATO will be submitted for ratification on February 26. when Hungarian lawmakers meet again in session.

In turn, Democrat Chris Murphy said the Orban government’s refusal to meet was “strange and alarming.”

The senators announced they would submit a general resolution to Congress condemning Hungary’s democratic apostasy and calling on Prime Minister Viktor Orban’s government to lift its bloc against Sweden’s transatlantic integration.

The senators’ resolution criticized Orbán’s increasingly heated relations with Russia and China and noted that while Hungary opened its doors to Ukrainian refugees fleeing Moscow’s onslaught, it “resists and weakens European sanctions Union against the Russian Federation.”

Note that Sweden applied to join NATO in 2022. The only countries that have delayed ratification of membership are Türkiye and Hungary. However, the Turkish parliament approved Sweden’s entry into the Alliance.

As is known, the Hungarian opposition proposed to hold an extraordinary meeting of the parliament to approve Sweden’s application, but the ruling party staged a boycott.