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 forint fell sharply, not helped by the news from America
Source: hirklikk.hu, DNH
14 Comments
If our PM has ambitions to be better at “playing” the West and the East than Tito was, then he’s going to have a very rude awakenining.
If he’s trying to sit on two chairs (and he is) then he’s going to fall.
Excuse me!
Orban reports to the Hungarian people not to Pressman!
To all Hungarians out there, even if you do not agree with Orban, you are faced with a brutal choice.
Do you become a US dependent state or do you make your own decisions?
Do you think USA will make Hungary stronger or more dependent?
If you are in any doubt look at Germany.
Once the powerhouse of the EU. It had good relations with Russia and China. Its wealth, which powered the whole EU economy was only there because of good business deals with Russia, especially on energy. Now it is humiliated, its own infrastructure destroyed by USA and its leaders looking pathetic.
USA has deliberately destroyed Germany and by extension the whole continent of Europe.
Just saying!
The Anglosphere and the West in general are, unfortunately, in the terminal decline stage. Hungary doesn’t need to abandon the sinking ship but would be a fool to hitch its wagon to that dimming star. Also, as Bruce says, the Hungarian government is in the service of the Hungarian voters, not a waning superpower on the other side of the world. The Biden administration’s chutzpah is simply astounding. Go fly a kite, papito!
Money talks, especially when it comes to Viktor. Orban has already made Hungary a client state, the problem is he’s done it with too many governments. From jump who ever would line his pockets got an OV-BJ… Now everyone realizes that Hungary is a best a bit player, the role of obstructor has run the course and he’s demonstrated he’s not interested in the team. Money walks.
I think it’s time for the **blind** European politician to realise what the USA doing to Europe before it’s to late !!
Signing up to treaties and entering into international agreements comes with obligations – which may limit Hungarian sovereignty. We are too small a fish in the world pond, and we’re not Switzerland. Pick your poison!
I hope @michaelsteiner is wrong about “the German decline” – Germany is Hungary’s main trading partner, accounting for in excess of a quarter of our trade volume, with 3000+ German companies present here (and paying taxes). We actually attract them with grants and incentives, funded by the European Union (EU), which makes the Hungarian Investment Promotion Agency HIPA so successful. Projections are not too bad: https://www.oecd.org/economy/germany-economic-snapshot/ . Did you ever look at the correlation EU funding numbers and Hungarian GDP growth, by the way? Got to love cold, hard numbers.
Fact: collaboration with other countries makes us stronger: as V4, we used to have clout within the EU (unfortunately, we alienated them), as EU, we have clout in the world – also vis-a-vis the US, China or any country or trading bloc, for that matter. When an EU representative walks in the door, people take note. When our Politicians walk in the door, solo … not so much. All the Facebook banter and press releases notwithstanding. Believe the Brits are finding this, post Brexit, too.
Europe is not “dependent” (unless it’s security…) – however, in the current world we are all interdependent. So pick a team or stand alone.
Hungary is a very small country. Obran is the most popular leader in the EU for over 8 years the biggest money behind the Biden regime is Soros and many of his NGOs would like nothing more to destroy Obran. With all his billions he has so far failed. Who do you think funds Orban opposition. How many millions did Politico get from him and gates.
It doesn’t matter if the west is in decline or ascent. It doesn’t matter who is funding the Hungarian opposition,Hungary is no longer viable as an independent country without outside support. As long as Orban needs western support, he has to dance to their tune. The golden rule, The guy who has the gold makes the rules. If Orban thinks that Russia is going to win this fight, and continue to be able to support Hungary, he is taking very long odds. In that case, do you think Russia will permit Hungary to remain a member of NATO? That leaves Hungary as a vassal of Russia. If Hungary want’s to continue as a member of NATO and access NATO markets, they will have to play by NATO rules.
Where the liberals in USA, EU and Zelensky’s puppets will run when Trump wins 2024 election?????
Florida Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis said protecting Ukraine is not a “vital” national interest for the US.
“While the United States has many vital national interests — securing our borders, addressing the crisis of readiness within our military, achieving energy security and independence, and reining in the economic, cultural, and military power of the Chinese Communist Party — becoming further entangled in the Territorial dispute between Ukraine and Russia is not one of them.”
“The Biden administration’s virtual ‘blank check’ funding of this conflict for ‘as long as it takes,’ without defined goals or accountability, distracts attention from our country’s most pressing challenges,” the Republican said.
In addition, he explained that “peace should be the goal” of the United States and expressed his opposition to sending “F-16s and long-range missiles.”
US plays victim over downed drone 1000s of miles from own shores, over the Black Sea near its ongoing proxy war with Russia in Ukraine.
A new world is emerging, one absent of American impunity.
Most of us are guilty (myself included) of commenting after getting hot under the collar. Most of the time, our emotions control what we type, but there is one person here among us (@Norbert) who is calm, collected and backs-up his comments with real facts, comments that come from a calm well-informed intellectual.
Further, I also agree with @Louis Blaine, simple, but oh so true.
NATO rules? It’s rules are US rules -they have funded over 90% of it for over 60 years. The US Biden regime has sent over 100 BILLION to Ukraine. They controlled Ukraine under the Obama/Biden years and made millions and those same people are running the US. Tell us more about the EU / NATO role. The majority of EU members have paid little what they owe. More effort has been put into keeping money from Hungary.
The U.S. is a NATO member, as is Türkiye, That downed drone was from a Turkish base (where the U.S. has a contingent). That drone wa downed while over INTERNATIONAL waters.
As a NATO member, the U.S. also has AWACS patrolling (protecting) air pace over Europe’s NATO members, at times, over/near Hungary. If @Bronco was a Hungarian, would he prefer to have Putin’s Air Force “patrolling” over Europe’s NATO airspace instead?