New US sanctions on the horizon: possible impact on travel

An international investigative online outlet has received information regarding potential new US sanctions against Hungarian individuals.

According to index.hu, VSquare, an international investigative outlet, reported on these potential sanctions in a newsletter. Based on their information, Joe Biden has informed several of his European allies that Washington may introduce new sanctions against Hungarian individuals. An insider at the outlet suggested that the reason behind these sanctions is corruption.

No further details have been disclosed in this matter. As a result, we remain uncertain about who the targeted individuals will be, when the resolutions will come into effect or the nature of the restrictions to be imposed. Nonetheless, VSquare speculates that even Prime Minister Viktor Orbán may interpret them as personal attacks. This implies that the sanctions may affect members of the Hungarian political and business elite, possibly impacting their ability to travel or engage in trade.

Regrettably, such measures have a history in the US-Hungary relationship. In April, the US imposed sanctions on the leadership of the Russian International Investment Bank, which was previously headquartered in Budapest. One of the individuals targeted was Imre Laszlóczki, the Hungarian deputy director of the bank.

At the time, David Pressman, the British ambassador in Budapest, stated that the bank, funded by the Kremlin, posed a threat to European countries and their allies. The Hungarian government responded promptly, with Hungary withdrawing from the IIB, recalling its officials, and the bank subsequently leaving Hungary. We reported on this development HERE.

Moreover, the United States restricted the visa waiver programme for Hungarian passport holders in August, citing unspecified security policy reasons. You can learn more about the actual reason behind this move HERE. Prior to that, the US unilaterally terminated a vital double taxation treaty. For more information on this matter, refer to THIS article.

The Orbán-Biden conflict driving sanctions, restrictions and challenges

The conflict between the Orbán and Biden administrations has been ongoing for years. Orbán has openly supported Trump, maintained ties with Russia, regularly criticised Washington for its support of Ukraine, vehemently argued for peace in Ukraine and fostered strong relations with China. Orbán is scheduled to travel to China next week to meet Xi Jinping amid growing tensions between the US and China. Furthermore, Orbán has not given the green light for Sweden’s accession to NATO.

Index believes that any announcement of new sanctions will likely come from Ambassador Pressman, although he has not yet given any indication of such announcements.

Zsolt Bayer, one of the prominent pro-government publicists, was outraged by the news of potential new sanctions. In a furious blog post, he expressed his desire to be among those targeted by the sanctions. Bayer referred to members of the Biden administration as “double-zero assholes,” “black belt villains” and “self-defeating idiot scoundrels” (. Furthermore, he referred to Ambassador Pressman as an “old, soft grouch.”

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