Senior US lawmakers have said they want Hungary to immediately approve Sweden's entry into NATO, suggesting Budapest risks permanently damaging its relationship with Washington.
The US demands that Hungary immediately approve Sweden's accession to NATO
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 and preventing Sweden from joining NATO.
Senators Gene Shaheen, a Democrat, and Tom Tillis, a Republican, who co-chair the Senate NATO Observer Group, issued a statement urging Hungary to reverse course.
"Hungary's inaction risks causing irreparable damage to its relations with the United States and NATO, the senators said in their address.
Hungary is currently the only NATO member that did not approve Sweden's application to join the alliance.
What has preceded it
Sweden, along with Finland, applied to join NATO in 2022 following 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 essential security player in the Baltic region.
Hungary is the only NATO member who has not approved Sweden's application to join the alliance.
The Hungarian parliament may convene on February 5 for an extraordinary session at the opposition's request. Still, it is unknown whether a vote on Sweden's accession to NATO will be possible, as the opposition wants.
