FM: US to reevaluate sanctions against Hungary under Biden administration

Hungary's Foreign Minister, Peter Szijjártó, announced that the United States will soon reassess the sanctions and restrictions imposed on Hungary by the previous US administration under President Joe Biden.

Szijjártó explained that during Biden’s tenure, a series of decisions were made that affected Hungary, including the termination of a double taxation agreement with Budapest, the imposition of entry restrictions on Hungarian citizens, and sanctions targeting Antal Rogán, the head of Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán's cabinet, Caliber.Az reports citing Russian media.

“We have already discussed with the new US leadership that we are restoring these relations, and the new Secretary of State has assured me that the decisions of the previous administration, which were based on revenge, will be reviewed very soon as part of the restoration of our bilateral relations,” Szijjártó said.

Earlier, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán expressed confidence that Budapest would strike a “good deal” with Washington and stated that Brussels would “get what it deserves.” Orbán highlighted that this agreement would help preserve Hungary's economic relations with the United States, adding that Hungary had anticipated the return of US President Donald Trump to office and had prepared accordingly.

“We are constantly negotiating and will make a good deal with the new administration,” Orbán emphasized. He also noted that Trump would defend American interests "even against Europe."

Orbán had previously claimed that in just two weeks, Trump had already reshaped global politics, notably by ending US support for Ukraine in its conflict with Russia, among other major shifts. “Everyone in the European Union sees the ‘Trump tornado’ approaching, but most still think they can escape it,” Orbán remarked.

The Biden administration had terminated Hungary's bilateral tax agreement and imposed stricter entry rules for Hungarian citizens, actions aimed at pressuring Budapest to reduce its ties with Moscow and Beijing.

On January 17, Szijjártó stated that Hungary views US President-elect Donald Trump as a political ally of Prime Minister Orbán.

By Tamilla Hasanova