Former US ambassador to Budapest David Cornstein described the US decision to include Antal Rogan, chief of staff to Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, on the sanctions lists as “horrible and shameful”, reports the Hungarian MTI agency, quoted by BTA.
Kornstein criticized the US administration, calling this decision another example of hostility towards Hungary. According to him, the actions of the outgoing ambassador David Pressman prove the “hostile approach of the US towards Hungary until the last moment“.
He compared the policy of the administration of President Joe Biden and former President Barack Obama with that of the first administration of Donald Trump, emphasizing that under Trump, relations between the US and Hungary were based on shared views on governance, migration and defense. Kornstein gave as an example the agreement on defense cooperation signed at that time.
The former diplomat expressed disappointment with the “missed opportunities for cooperation“ during the current administration, but expressed hope that cooperation between the two countries would “flourish“ under a potential second term of Donald Trump.