Hungarian expert: U.S. fed up with Hungary’s shuttle diplomacy
The U.S. Embassy in Budapest published a recent press release last Friday. The press release states that Ambassador David Pressman has been in Washington to meet up with the Secretary of State and Senate leaders to discuss U.S.-Hungarian relations and Hungary’s role in Russian aggression against Ukraine.
The release was reviewed by Miklós Radványi, a Hungarian-born American journalist, who said that its tone and content suggested that an ultimatum was given to Orbán, hirklikk.hu reported.
Visit to Washington
As we wrote, Ambassador David Pressman travelled to Washington last week to consult with U.S. Secretary of State Anthony Blinken, as well as senior White House National Security Council officials and Senate leaders. The talks focused on the current state of U.S.-Hungarian relations.
Hirklikk.hu contacted Miklós Radványi to evaluate and interpret the press release. According to Radványi, it is rare for an ambassador to be called back home, and it is also unusual for the Senate to be involved in such consultations. According to the expert, they have made it clear that the U.S. executive and the legislature are of the same opinion about the Hungarian Prime Minister.
Warning from the United States
Although the press release does not mention the Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, Radványi believes that everyone is aware that the Hungarian government is equivalent to him, since it is only his word that counts in the country. The expert believes that with the announcement, the U.S. is making one last attempt to guide Orbán to the right path and warn him that NATO membership comes with obligations. According to him, the release indicates that the U.S. has had enough of the Hungarian government’s shuttle diplomacy between NATO and Russia.
There is no doubt that this is a very tough ultimatum for Orbán,
the expert says.
Since the release mentions the Russian-Ukrainian war, Radványi reckons that Hungary is facing a tough message. This means that if Orbán doesn’t make amends, the U.S. will take action against him. Since the Senate (the upper house of Congress) was also involved in the meeting, there would certainly be a unified response against Hungary. Since the Congress handles the finances, it is possible that they will cease all financial aid if Orbán does not change his policies. Radványi concludes that this is a “very tough ultimatum.” He deems that the involvement of the Senate suggests that the United States is collectively disapproving of Orbán’s shuttle diplomacy. Unless Orbán revises his policy, there will be serious “political, economic and financial consequences.”
Read alsoHungarian expert: U.S. fed up with Hungary’s shuttle diplomacy
Source: hirklikk.hu, DNH