Following Zoltán Balog’s official visit to the White House last week, he says Mick Mulvaney, White House Director of the Office of Management and Budget, is urging the renewal of Hungarian-US relations.
Hungary’s minister of Human Capacities told MTI that during their meeting at the White House they reviewed the economic and security policy aspects of Hungarian-US relations, and spoke about the efforts the Hungarian government is making in the interest of persecuted Christians.
Balog said the economic and security policy aspects of Hungarian-US relations are important and highlighted that the United States is Hungary’s second largest economic partner after Germany. Balog also mentioned that Hungary is seeking to play a considerable role in NATO.
The minister added that the US is satisfied with Hungary’s contribution to the North Atlantic Alliance, in particular related to its contribution to the budget of the military and security organisation.
Last week, we reported that US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson said relations between Hungary and the United States are heading in the right direction.
Tillerson told Balog the good news during a brief exchange with him at a prayer breakfast in Washington, DC on Thursday.
Balog quoted Tillerson as saying that a series of new appointments in the State Department had brought about a change in the Department’s approach to Hungary. On the topic of the Hungarian government’s efforts taken to protect persecuted Christians, Balog said Hungary and the US have developed a close working relationship in this area.
He added that the US has shown a growing interest in all that Hungary has been doing for persecuted Christians. Hungary has pledged to help Christians in the Middle East, but rather than donate to international organizations, it directly aids Christian communities that want to stay in the region instead of fleeing and becoming refugees, he added.