Hungarian Government Rejects Meeting US Senators Over Sweden
The Hungarian government said thanks but no thanks to a delegation of U.S. senators who sought a meeting to pressure Budapest into accepting Sweden into NATO. Now those same senators want a resolution condemning the country’s supposed democratic backsliding.
The nation, which notoriously bucks the woke trends espoused by other alliance members, is the only one that has yet to approve Sweden’s bid. Admission into NATO requires unanimous approval.
However, Prime Minister Viktor Orban’s government announced in recent days that Parliament will approve the Scandinavian nation’s bid by the end of the month. Whether that will appease the senators remains to be seen.
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The Associated Press reported early Sunday that the joint resolution was authored by Sens. Thom Tillis (R-NC) and Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH).
The pair were joined on the Budapest junket by Sen. Chris Murphy (D-CT).
Democrats in particular along with the White House have been harsh in their recent criticisms of Orban. Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee Ben Cardin (D-MD) called the Hungarian president “the least reliable member of NATO.”
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He went so far as to float the prospect of sanctions against the U.S. ally.
Shaheen called it “disappointing” that the delegation was turned away by the Hungarian parliament. She went on to express her support for Sweden’s ascension into NATO after Hungarian lawmakers meet next week.
Murphy attempted to take a diplomatic stance. “We are wise enough about politics here to know that if Prime Minister Orban wants this to happen, then the parliament can move forward.”
Orban and many in Hungary’s leadership are not happy about statements coming from Swedish lawmakers. Leftists in the Scandinavian nation have been critical of Budapest’s conservatives, as has the Biden administration.
The Hungarian nationalist called Swedish comments about his government “blatant lies.” Many leaders also take exception to the White House’s support for the country’s leftist opposition.
But in a televised address Saturday, Orban indicated the impasse was nearly over. “It’s good news that our dispute with Sweden is nearing a conclusion. We are moving toward ratifying Sweden’s ascension to NATO at the beginning of the spring session of Parliament.”