Senior US lawmakers have said they want Hungary to approve Sweden's entry into NATO immediately, suggesting Budapest risks permanently damaging its relationship with Washington if it does not act. This is reported Reuters.
Democratic Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Senator Ben Cardin said he was "deeply concerned" about the direction of the current Hungarian government.
The deputy noted that Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban was delaying aid to Ukraine from the European Union, as well as preventing Sweden from joining NATO.
"Partners don't do that. And I doubt whether they are a reliable ally for our visa-free program."
The Visa Waiver Program allows citizens of 41 countries to travel to the United States for up to 90 days without a visa.
In turn, Senators Democrat Zhanna Sahin and Republican Tom Tillis, who are co-chairs of the NATO Observer Group in the Senate, issued a statement calling on Hungary to change course: "Hungary's inaction risks irrevocably damaging its relations with the United States and NATO."
It will be recalled that Sweden, together with Finland, submitted an application to join NATO in 2022 after Russia's invasion of Ukraine. But its membership has been delayed by Turkey and Hungary, leaving the country in limbo and disappointing NATO allies who see Sweden as an important security player in the Baltic region.
Currently, Hungary is the only NATO member that did not approve Sweden's application to join the alliance.
The Hungarian parliament may convene on Monday, February 5, for an extraordinary session at the request of the opposition, but it is not known whether a vote on Sweden's accession to NATO will be possible, as the opposition wants.
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