A bipartisan group of US lawmakers is running out of patience as they demand that Hungary immediately ratify Sweden's application to join NATO, The Guardian writes. News agency.
In their joint statement, Democratic Representative Jeanne Shaheen and Republican Senator Thom Tillis called on Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban to “advance the protocols for Sweden's accession to NATO without delay” and indicated that halting the process would harm Budapest's relations with its allies.
Despite several previous public commitments, Hungary is the last NATO country not to ratify Sweden's request, and time and patience are running out. Hungary's failure to act risks irreversible damage to its relations with the United States and NATO.
The senators wrote.
Democratic US Senator Ben Cardin, chairman of the Senate Foreign Affairs Committee, raised the possibility of sanctions against Hungary in his statement, calling Orban “the least reliable member of NATO.” As he said
Sanctions on Hungarians should also be reconsidered, especially regarding the level of corruption in Hungary.
This may become possible through the global expansion of the Magnitsky Act, passed years ago, which gives the United States the ability to retaliate against people who have committed crimes abroad in violation of human rights or the rule of law by freezing their assets in the United States. The United States refuses, cancels, or even blocks American visas so that American banks, companies, and individuals can conduct transactions with them.
Cardin welcomed the European Union's decision on Thursday on a 50 billion euro aid package for Ukraine, but believes it is necessary to overcome the veto used by Orban, who threatened to block the funding.
This is the status of the issue of ratification now
Viktor Orban and members of the Hungarian government have repeatedly stressed that Hungary will not be the last NATO member state to support Sweden's accession, and by comparison, Hungary is the only country in the 31-member military alliance that has not yet supported accession. As it turns out, someone has to be the last.
In January, the Turkish parliament voted on Stockholm's request, which the Turkish president had already signed, turning attention to Hungary's decision, as NATO members seek to expand the alliance after the Russian attack on Ukraine.
The Hungarian Parliament has not yet placed a vote on the protocols for Sweden's accession to NATO on its agenda, and according to the latest information, representatives will discuss the issue during an extraordinary session next week, Monday, February 5.
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