WSJ: Hungary bucks U.S. push to curb Russian and Chinese influence – UPDATE
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The Hungarian leader made his remarks last month in a meeting with the U.S. ambassador in Budapest.
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán has told U.S. diplomats that he wants his country to be “neutral, like Austria” as Washington pushes for a tougher line on Russia and China, deepening fears that a longtime American ally is drifting from its orbit, UNIAN report based on WSJ article.
Read also Hungary should realize scale of Russia’s hybrid methods – Klimkin Aides to Mr. Orbán said he wants to remain a troop-contributing member of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization and values the security Hungary gets from the alliance. But a senior Hungarian official said Mr. Orbán strongly objects to U.S. pressure aimed at curbing the influence of Moscow and Beijing in Europe, according to The Wall Street Journal.
The Hungarian leader made his remarks last month in a meeting with the U.S. ambassador in Budapest, according to people familiar with the discussion. Mr. Orbán’s spokesman didn’t respond to requests for comment.
In recent weeks, the U.S. has sought to rally fellow NATO members to take firmer steps to counter potential Chinese cyber-espionage and for months has been pushing the alliance to step up its backing for Ukraine in the country’s running confrontation with Russia.