USA: Concerns about Hungary's ties with Russia "cannot be ignored"

2024-03-14 20:18:00, Kosova & Bota CNA

USA: Concerns about Hungary's ties with Russia "cannot be

The US ambassador to Hungary warned Budapest about expanding its relations with Russia and raised "legitimate security concerns" during his speech on the 25th anniversary of Hungary's NATO membership.

Ambassador David Pressman said that while Hungary is a close friend and ally, the country has done things that undermine trust and friendship, and the concerns he shares with Hungary's NATO allies "cannot be ignored."

The concerns center on the Government that "qualifies and treats the US as an 'adversary', while making political choices that isolate it more and more from its friends and allies", said Pressman during the event organized by the US embassy.

The US "cannot ignore the claim by the speaker of Hungary's Parliament that [Russian President Vladimir] Putin's war in Ukraine is in fact a 'US-led' war," Pressman said. "We cannot understand nor accept that the prime minister identifies the USA as the 'main opponent' of Hungary".

Pressman added that Hungary's allies are warning of the dangers of Hungary's "close and extended relations with Russia" and if this is Hungary's political decision, "we must decide how best to protect our security interests, that will have to be our common security interests as allies".

Western governments have expressed dissatisfaction with Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban's close relations with Moscow despite the launch of the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Relations between Budapest and Washington deteriorated after delays caused by Hungary in ratifying Sweden's accession to NATO.

Ambassador Pressman said that Hungary has openly called on the US and other allies to stop sending military aid to Ukraine, to force the parties to reach a ceasefire agreement and hold peace talks.

"Even the USA wants peace. We want this war to end. But the Hungarian proposal does not coincide with reality," he said.

The American ambassador also mentioned the suppression of the media and independent journalists. He said that the US seeks dialogue with the Hungarian Government and wants reports based on "democratic values, common security and prosperity".

The American leadership is determined to improve relations, Pressman said, but the Hungarian government has not yet expressed such an intention./ REL