Hungary's anti-American rhetoric gets into Washington ears
U.S. Ambassador to Hungary David Pressman traveled to Washington, D.C. this week for consultations with the United States Secretary of State, senior White House National Security Council officials, and bipartisan leadership from the United States Senate to discuss the current state of the U.S.-Hungary relationship.
The ambassador has been criticised by members of the Hungarian government on several occasions in the past, and Prime Minister Viktor Orbán even mentioned him in his state of the nation address, and has criticised the United States on several occasions over the Russian-Ukrainian war. Other members of the Hungarian government have done the same, while David Pressman has also voiced concern about the Hungarian cabinet's anti-American statements. In light of this, the recent meeting in Washington sends a strong message.
The statement testifies that too:
The Ambassador met with Secretary of State Antony Blinken and senior White House officials to discuss recent developments in the relationship with our Ally, including uniquely anti-American rhetoric from senior Hungarian officials and pervasive anti-American rhetoric in the media controlled by the Government of Hungary.
"In his meetings with Senate leadership, the Ambassador discussed the current state of our relationship, the need for unequivocal unity and resolve in standing up to Putin, the urgency of accession of Sweden and Finland to NATO, recent statements made by the leadership of Hungary about the United States, and our commitment to working to care for this important relationship at a time of enormous complexity," the embassy said in a statement.
"Hungary has reached an important moment in determining its future path,” the Ambassador said.
As Russia’s unjustifiable war rages next door, the time is now for a stronger relationship between Hungary and its Transatlantic Allies and partners.
Cover photo: U.S. Ambassador to Hungary David Pressman and Secretary of State Antony Blinken . Source: US Embassy Budapest.
