Top US Senators suggest relations with Hungary could be damaged if it does not endorse Sweden's NATO accession soon

The New Voice of Ukraine
·2 min read
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Flags of NATO and Sweden
Flags of NATO and Sweden

Senior U.S. lawmakers want Hungary to immediately endorse Sweden's accession to NATO, adding that Budapest risks "permanent damage" to its relations with Washington if it does not act, Reuters reported on Feb. 1.

Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Ben Cardin said he had "deep concerns" about the course of the current Hungarian government.

"Partners don't do these things. And I am questioning whether they are a trusted ally for our [visa] waiver program" he said.

The visa waiver program allows citizens of 41 countries to travel to the United States for up to 90 days without visas.

Read also: Turkish parliament to vote on Sweden's NATO entry this week — report

Senators Jeanne Shaheen, a Democrat, and Tom Tillis, a Republican, who are co-chairs of the Senate NATO Observer Group, issued a statement calling on Budapest to change course.

"Hungary’s inaction risks irrevocably damaging its relationship with the United States and with NATO," their statement reads.

Hungary is currently the only NATO member that has not approved Sweden's application to join the alliance.

Sweden and Finland simultaneously applied to join NATO in May 2022 amid Russia's full-scale war against Ukraine.

Read also: Hungary further delays Finland and Sweden joining NATO

Finland officially joined NATO on April 4, 2023, becoming the 31st member state of the North Atlantic Alliance.

After the Turkish parliament approved Sweden's accession to NATO on Jan. 23, Hungarian President Viktor Orbán said that his government also supports the decision and called on the parliament to vote as soon as possible to ratify Sweden's application.

Hungarian Parliament Speaker László Kövér, however, said that his country would not rush to ratify Sweden's application for NATO membership because it "does not feel the urgency."

Media reported on Feb. 1 that the Hungarian parliament may consider Sweden's application for NATO membership next week.

Read also: Orban invites Swedish PM to discuss Stockholm's NATO accession

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