A bipartisan delegation of US senators arrived in Hungary, the only NATO country that has not yet ratified Sweden’s application to join, calling on Hungarian authorities to immediately approve Sweden’s application.
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However, the Hungarian government ignored this visit. This was reported by The Washington Post.
Senator Jeanne Sahin said it was “disappointing” that no member of the Hungarian government accepted the invitation to meet with the delegation, but she was “full of hope and optimism” that Sweden’s accession would be submitted for ratification when Hungarian lawmakers meet again on February 26.
Senator Chris Murphy said the Orbán government’s refusal to meet with the delegation was “bizarre and worrying”, but the responsibility for holding the vote rests with the Hungarian leader.
We are wise enough in political matters to know that if Prime Minister Orbán wants this to happen, then parliament can move forward,” he stressed.
Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto said Friday he welcomed the senators’ visit, but “there is no point in trying to put pressure on us because we are a sovereign country.”
Earlier this month, it was reported that US Senator Ben Cardin, Democrat of Maryland and head of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, raised the prospect of sanctions against Hungary for its behavior and called Orban “the least reliable member of NATO.” In particular:
- Cardin believes the Biden administration should examine whether the US should maintain visa-free travel for Hungarian passport holders;
- According to him, “given the level of corruption” in Hungary, the United States should consider imposing sanctions.
The AP recently learned that Sens. Shaheen, the Democrat, and Thom Tillis, the Republican, plan to introduce a bipartisan resolution in Congress condemning Hungary’s democratic backsliding and calling on its government to lift its block on Sweden’s entry into NATO.
Source: The Washington Post
Source: Racurs
I am David Wyatt, a professional writer and journalist for Buna Times. I specialize in the world section of news coverage, where I bring to light stories and issues that affect us globally. As a graduate of Journalism, I have always had the passion to spread knowledge through writing.