US Senators Urge Sweden's NATO Accession in Budapest

On Sunday, three US senators urged, at their country's embassy in Budapest, the ratification of Sweden's NATO accession bid as soon as possible. However, they emphasized that they had trust in Prime Minister Orban's pledge, reaffirmed on Saturday, that this would take place on February 26.

20240218 Budapest Senator Jeanne Shaheen, co-chair of the Senate NATO Observer Group, member of the Committee on Foreign Relations and Committee on Appropriations; Senator Thom Tillis, co-chair of the Senate NATO Observer Group; Senator Chris Murphy, member of the Committee on Foreign Relations and Committee on Appropriations; Amerikai Nagykövetség sajtótájékoztató Fotó: Mirkó István Magyar Nemzet Fotó: Mirkó István

Photo: Istvan Mirko 

The senators expressed regret that they had not been received by anyone from the government, even conveying some puzzlement. On Friday, In response to a question from Magyar Nemzet, Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto emphasized that 

Hungary was a sovereign country, and we believe that no sovereign country should be putting pressure on another, especially when it comes to allies.

According to the Hungarian government, the Senators - as members of a legislative delegation - have their negotiating partners in Hungary's National Assembly.   

There are disputes in a family, but Hungary is part of the NATO family,

– Mr Tillis said, in response to a question from The New York Times, confirming that Hungary is not a weak link in the Atlantic alliance. 

Despite the relatively conciliatory tone, certain disagreements have also surfaced, with the Senators expressing concern about democratic backsliding in Hungary. However, they did not go into any detail apart from the usual references to independent media and similar allegations. Although we would have liked to ask the Senators on this issue, we did not get a chance. 

Photo: Istvan Mirko 

The Senators underscored their belief that NATO's strength lies in its composition of stable democracies. In line with this perspective, the US Congress may put forth a new resolution. Another key distinction is their conviction that providing support to Ukraine is crucial for expeditiously concluding the Russia-Ukraine war. They also perceive Russian President Putin as a threat to NATO as a whole.

Cover photo: US Senators Jeanne Shaheen, Thom Tillis and Chris Murphy and US Ambassador to Hungary David Pressman hold a press conference in Budapest (Photo: Istvan Mirko)