Foreign relations of Hungary
{{Short description|none}}
{{Politics of Hungary}}
Hungary wields considerable influence in Central and Eastern Europe and is a middle power in international affairs.Solomon S (1997) [http://www.issafrica.org/Pubs/Monographs/No13/Solomon.html South African Foreign Policy and Middle Power Leadership] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150426220103/http://www.issafrica.org/Pubs/Monographs/No13/Solomon.html |title=Archived |website=issafrica.org |date=26 April 2015 }}, ISS{{cite journal|last1=Higgott|first1=Richard A.|last2=Cooper|first2=Andrew Fenton|title=Middle power leadership and coalition building: Canada, the Cairns Group, and the Uruguay Round of trade negotiations|journal=International Organization|date=1990|volume=44|issue=4|pages=589–632|doi=10.1017/S0020818300035414|jstor=2706854|s2cid=153563278 }} The foreign policy of Hungary includes commitments to international development, international law, European integration, Atlantic co-operation and increased co-operation within the Global East. The Hungarian economy is fairly open and relies strongly on international trade.
Hungary has been a member of the United Nations since December 1955 and holds current membership with the European Union, NATO, the OECD, the Visegrád Group, the WTO, the World Bank, the AIIB and the IMF. Hungary took on the presidency of the Council of the European Union for half a year in 2011 and the next will be in 2024. In 2015, Hungary was the fifth largest OECD Non-DAC donor of development aid in the world, which represents 0.13% of its Gross National Income. In this regard, Hungary stands before Spain, Israel or Russia.
Hungary's capital city, Budapest is home to more than 100 embassies and foreign representative bodies.{{cite web|url=http://www.123embassy.com/city.php?c=Budapest|title=Embassies in Budapest|year=2014|publisher=123embassy.com|access-date=20 November 2016}} Hungary hosts the main and regional headquarters of many international organizations as well, including European Institute of Innovation and Technology, European Police College, United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, International Centre for Democratic Transition, Institute of International Education, International Labour Organization, International Organization for Migration, International Red Cross, Regional Environmental Center for Central and Eastern Europe, Danube Commission and even others.{{cite web|url=http://www.mfa.gov.hu/kum2005/Templates/alapsablon.aspx?NRMODE=Published&NRORIGINALURL=%2Fkum%2Fen%2Fbal%2Fforeign_policy%2Fun_sc%2Finternational_organisations.htm&NRNODEGUID=%7B45550E06-66FE-4183-A899-EDF5BD040EB5%7D&NRCACHEHINT=NoModifyGuest&printable=true |title=International organizations in Hungary |publisher=Ministry of Foreign Affairs |access-date=20 November 2016 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160313115736/http://www.mfa.gov.hu/kum2005/Templates/alapsablon.aspx?NRMODE=Published&NRORIGINALURL=%2Fkum%2Fen%2Fbal%2Fforeign_policy%2Fun_sc%2Finternational_organisations.htm&NRNODEGUID=%7B45550E06-66FE-4183-A899-EDF5BD040EB5%7D&NRCACHEHINT=NoModifyGuest&printable=true |archive-date=13 March 2016 }}
From 1989, Hungary's top foreign policy goal was achieving integration into Western economic and security organizations. It joined the Partnership for Peace program in 1994 and has actively supported the IFOR and SFOR missions in Bosnia. It also improved its often frosty neighborly relations by signing basic treaties with Ukraine, Slovakia, and Romania. These renounce all outstanding territorial claims and lay the foundation for constructive relations. However, the issue of ethnic Hungarian minority rights in Romania, Slovakia and Ukraine periodically causes bilateral tensions to flare up. Hungary since 1989 has signed all of the OSCE documents, and served as the OSCE's Chairman-in-Office in 1997. Hungary's record of implementing CSCE Helsinki Final Act provisions, including those on the reunification of divided families, remains among the best in Central and Eastern Europe.
Except for the short-lived neutrality declared by the anti-Soviet leader Imre Nagy in November 1956, Hungary's foreign policy generally followed the Soviet lead from 1947 to 1989. During the Communist period, Hungary maintained treaties of friendship, cooperation, and mutual assistance with the Soviet Union, Poland, Czechoslovakia, the German Democratic Republic, Romania, and Bulgaria. It was one of the founding members of the Soviet-led Warsaw Pact and Comecon, and it was the first country to withdraw from those organizations. After 1989, it began to orient more towards the West, joining NATO in 1999 and the European Union in 2004. In 2010, Hungary initiated its Eastern Opening Policy, marking a commitment to enhancing its relations with other nations within the Global East.{{Cite web |last=Péter |first=Dániel |date=2015 |title=The Eastern Opening - An Element of Hungary's Trade Policy |url=https://www.researchgate.net/publication/282217890 |access-date=20 December 2023}}
File:Necasmeeting.jpg leaders, plus Germany and France in 2013]]
File:BIMUN 2012 opening 1.jpg conference in the assembly hall of House of Magnates in the Hungarian Parliament]]
Overview
As with any country, Hungarian security attitudes are shaped largely by history and geography. For Hungary, this is a history of more than 400 years of domination by great powers—the Ottomans, the Habsburg dynasty, the Germans during World War II, and the Soviets during the Cold War—and a geography of regional instability and separation from Hungarian minorities living in neighboring countries. Hungary's foreign policy priorities, largely consistent since 1990, represent a direct response to these factors. From 1990, Hungary's top foreign policy goal was achieving integration into Western economic and security organizations. Hungary joined the Partnership for Peace program in 1994 and has actively supported the IFOR and SFOR missions in Bosnia. The Horn government achieved Hungary's most important foreign policy successes of the post-communist era by securing invitations to join both NATO and the European Union in 1997. Hungary became a member of NATO in 1999,{{cite web |title=THE ACCESSION OF THE CZECH REPUBLIC, HUNGARY AND POLAND |url=https://www.nato.int/docu/comm/1999/9904-wsh/pres-eng/03acce.pdf |website=nato.int}} and a member of the EU in 2004.{{cite web |title=Hungary |url=https://european-union.europa.eu/principles-countries-history/country-profiles/hungary_en |website=europa.eu}}
Hungary also has improved its often frosty neighborly relations by signing basic treaties with Romania, Slovakia, and Ukraine. These renounce all outstanding territorial claims and lay the foundation for constructive relations. However, the issue of ethnic Hungarian minority rights in Slovakia and Romania periodically causes bilateral tensions to flare up. Hungary was a signatory to the Helsinki Final Act in 1975, has signed all of the CSCE/OSCE follow-on documents since 1989, and served as the OSCE's Chairman-in-Office in 1997. Hungary's record of implementing CSCE Helsinki Final Act provisions, including those on the reunification of divided families, remains among the best in eastern Europe. Hungary has been a member of the United Nations since December 1955.
;The Gabčíkovo - Nagymaros Dams project
This involves Hungary and Czechoslovakia, and was agreed on September 16, 1977 ("Budapest Treaty"). The treaty envisioned a cross-border barrage system between the towns Gabčíkovo, Czechoslovakia and Nagymaros, Hungary. After an intensive campaign, the project became widely hated as a symbol of the old communist regime. In 1989 the Hungarian government decided to suspend it. In its sentence from September 1997, the International Court of Justice stated that both sides breached their obligation and that the 1977 Budapest Treaty is still valid. In 1998 the Slovak government turned to the International Court, demanding the Nagymaros part to be built. The international dispute was partially solved in 2017.
On March 19, 2008, Hungary recognized Kosovo as an independent country.{{cite web|title=Croatia and Hungary recognize Kosovo|url=http://www.iht.com/articles/2008/03/19/europe/kosovo.php|work=The Associated Press|publisher=International Herald Tribune|date=2008-03-19|access-date=2008-09-21}}
Relations between Hungary and its Western partners have strained, because Orban's government has maintained relations with Russia despite sanctions against Russia after the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine.{{cite web |title=Hungary's loyalties tested as Russia's war in Ukraine grinds on |url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2023/4/14/hungarys-loyalties-tested-as-russias-war-in-ukraine-grinds-on |website=aljazeera.com |access-date=14 Apr 2023}}
Illicit drugs:
Major trans-shipment point for Southwest Asian heroin and cannabis and transit point for South American cocaine destined for Western Europe; limited producer of precursor chemicals, particularly for amphetamines and methamphetamines
Refugee protection:
The Hungarian border barrier was built in 2015, and Hungary was criticized by other European countries for using tear gas and water cannons on refugees of the Syrian Civil War as they were trying to pass the country.[https://www.theguardian.com/world/live/2015/sep/16/first-refugees-head-for-croatia-after-hungarys-border-crackdown-live-updates Hungary border crackdown], The Guardian 16 September 2015[http://www.cbsnews.com/news/hungarian-police-spray-tear-gas-water-cannons-at-migrants/ Hungarian police spray tear gas water cannons at migrants], CBS News 16 September 2015
Since 2017, Hungary–Ukraine relations have rapidly deteriorated over the issue of the Hungarian minority in Ukraine.{{cite news |title=Ukraine defends education reform as Hungary promises 'pain' |url=https://www.irishtimes.com/news/world/europe/ukraine-defends-education-reform-as-hungary-promises-pain-1.3235916 |newspaper=The Irish Times |date=27 September 2017}}"[https://www.neweurope.eu/article/hungary-ukraine-relations-hit-new-low-troop-deployment/ Hungary-Ukraine relations hit new low over troop deployment] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190331181346/https://www.neweurope.eu/article/hungary-ukraine-relations-hit-new-low-troop-deployment/ |date=2019-03-31 }}". New Europe. 26 March 2018.
Hungary and Central Asia
File:Istanbul hosts 8th Summit of Cooperation Council of Turkic-Speaking States (2).jpg
A number of Hungarian anthropologists and linguists have long had an interest in the Turkic peoples, fueled by the eastern origin of the Hungarians' ancestors.{{cite book
|first=András |last=Róna-Tas
|publisher=Central European University Press |year=1999
|isbn=978-963-9116-48-1
|title=Hungarians and Europe in the early Middle Ages: an introduction to early Hungarian history
|url= https://books.google.com/books?id=I-RTt0Q6AcYC
|pages=409–410
}} The Hungarian ethnomusicologist Bence Szabolcsi explained this motivation as follows: "Hungarians are the outermost branch leaning this way from age-old tree of the great Asian musical culture rooted in the souls of a variety of peoples living from China through Central Asia to the Black Sea".ipos, János [http://www.zti.hu/sipos/book%20kazak.htm Kazakh Folksongs from the Two Ends of the Steppe] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081202040552/http://www.zti.hu/sipos/book%20kazak.htm |date=2008-12-02 }}
Since the political transformation in 1990, Hungary has prioritized its diplomatic engagements with the Turkic world.{{Cite web |last=Hóvári |first=János |date=2022 |title=Hungary and the Turkic World: A Twenty-first Century Challenge {{!}} Hungarian Conservative |url=https://www.hungarianconservative.com/articles/current/hungary-and-the-turkic-world-a-twenty-first-century-challenge/ |access-date=2023-12-20 |website=Hungarian Conservative |language=en-US}} in 2018, Hungary became an observer within the Organisation of Turkic States, underscoring a deepened engagement in regional cooperation.{{Cite web |date=2021 |title=Hungary to initiate joint summit of Turkic Council and V4 |url=https://2015-2022.miniszterelnok.hu/hungary-to-initiate-joint-summit-of-turkic-council-and-v4/ |access-date=2023-12-20 |website=Miniszterelnöke}}
Diplomatic relations
List of countries which Hungary maintains diplomatic relations with:
Relations by region and country
=Multilateral=
| class="wikitable sortable" border="1" style="width:100%; margin:auto;"
!width="15%"| Organization !width="12%"| Formal Relations Began !Notes | |
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|{{Flag|European Union}} |
| (See Hungary in the European Union)
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|{{Flag|NATO}} |
| (See Hungary in NATO)
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=Africa=
=Americas=
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|{{flag|Argentina}} | (See Argentina–Hungary relations)
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|{{flag|Belize}} | * Belize does not have an accreditation to Hungary.
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|{{flag|Brazil}} | 1927 | (See Brazil–Hungary relations) |
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|{{flag|Canada}} | 1964 | (See Canada–Hungary relations)
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|{{flag|Colombia}} | 28 March 1973 | (See Colombia–Hungary relations)
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|{{flag|Dominica}} | * Hungary is accredited to Dominica from its embassy in Havana, Cuba.{{Cite web|url=https://havanna.mfa.gov.hu/|title=Magyarország Nagykövetsége Havanna|website=havanna.mfa.gov.hu}} | |
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|{{flag|Mexico}} | 1925 | (See Hungary–Mexico relations)
Both countries established diplomatic relations in 1864, during the time of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. Diplomatic relations were established between Hungary and Mexico in 1925 and were suspended in 1941. They were re-established on 14 May 1974.
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|{{flag|United States}} | 1922 | (See Hungary–United States relations)
Normal bilateral relations between Hungary and the U.S. were resumed in December 1945 when a U.S. ambassador was appointed and the embassy was re-opened.
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|{{flag|Uruguay}} | (See Hungary–Uruguay relations)
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=Asia=
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|{{flag|Armenia}} | 2022-12-02 | (See Armenia–Hungary relations)
On 31 August 2012, Armenia severed relations with Hungary following the extradition of Ramil Safarov.{{Cite web|url=https://www.president.am/en/statements-and-messages/item/2012/08/31/President-Serzh-Sargsyan-speech-ambassadors/|title=Remarks by the President of the Republic of Armenia Serzh Sargsyan at the Meeting with the Heads of Diplomatic Missions Accredited in the Republic of Armenia - Statements and messages of the President of RA - Updates - The President of the Republic of Armenia}} On 2 December 2022, Armenia and Hungary restored diplomatic relations.{{Cite news |date=2 December 2022 |title=Armenia and Hungary to restore ties |work=Eurasianet |url=https://eurasianet.org/armenia-and-hungary-to-restore-ties#:~:text=Armenia%20and%20Hungary%20have%20agreed%20to%20restore%20diplomatic,sidelines%20of%20an%20OSCE%20ministerial%20meeting%20in%20Poland. |access-date=13 September 2023}}
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|{{flag|Azerbaijan}} | (See Azerbaijan–Hungary relations)
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|{{flag|China }} | 1949-10-04 | (See Hungary-China relations)
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|{{flag|Georgia}} | * Georgia has an embassy in Budapest.
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|{{flag|India}} |
|(See Hungary–India relations)
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|{{flag|Indonesia}} | 1955
|(See Hungary–Indonesia relations)
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|{{flag|Iran}} | 1939 | (See Hungary–Iran relations)
ifpnews.com. Retrieved 23 September 2022. |
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|{{flag|Iraq}} | (See Hungary–Kurdistan Region relations)
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|{{flag|Israel}} | (See Hungary–Israel relations)
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|{{flag|Japan}} | (See Hungary–Japan relations)
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|{{flag|Kazakhstan}} | (See Hungary–Kazakhstan relations) | |
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|{{flag|Malaysia}} | 1969 | (See Hungary–Malaysia relations)
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|{{flag|Mongolia}} | 1959-05-29
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|{{flag|North Korea}} |
|(See Hungary–North Korea relations)
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|{{flag|Pakistan }} | 1965-11-26
|(See Hungary–Pakistan relations)
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|{{flag|Palestine}} | |1988-11-23
|(See Hungary–Palestine relations)
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| {{Flag|Qatar}}
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|{{flag|Saudi Arabia}} | * Hungary has an embassy in Riyadh.
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|{{flag|South Korea}} | 1 February 1989{{cite web|url=http://www.mofa.go.kr/ENG/countries/europe/countries/20070818/1_24615.jsp?menu=m_30_40|title=Countries and Regions > Europe > List of the Countries|website=Mofa.go.kr|access-date=8 October 2017|archive-date=24 December 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131224082354/http://www.mofa.go.kr/ENG/countries/europe/countries/20070818/1_24615.jsp?menu=m_30_40|url-status=dead}}
|(See Hungary–South Korea relations) The establishment of diplomatic relations between Hungary and the Republic of Korea began on 1 February 1989.
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|{{flag|Sri Lanka}} | (See Hungary–Sri Lanka relations)
Sri Lanka has an embassy in Vienna, Austria that is accredited to Hungary{{cite web|url=http://www.srilankaembassy.at/MainPage.htm |title=Embassy and Permanent Mission of Sri Lanka |publisher=Sri Lankan Embassy in Vienna |access-date=2009-05-03 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090504134755/http://www.srilankaembassy.at/MainPage.htm |archive-date=May 4, 2009 }} and has an honorary consulate in Budapest{{cite web |url=http://www.kulugyminiszterium.hu/kum/hu/bal/Kulpolitikank/tb_konz_konf_2008/tb_konz_intezmeny_testulet/hun_tb_konz_lista.htm |title=List of honorary consuls in Hungary |publisher=Ministry for Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Hungary |language=hu |access-date=2009-05-03 |archive-date=2009-01-01 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090101165847/http://www.kulugyminiszterium.hu/kum/hu/bal/Kulpolitikank/tb_konz_konf_2008/tb_konz_intezmeny_testulet/hun_tb_konz_lista.htm |url-status=dead }} Hungary maintains an honorary consulate in Colombo, Sri Lanka.{{cite web |url = http://www.slmfa.gov.lk/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=789&Itemid=84 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070610020959/http://www.slmfa.gov.lk//index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=789&Itemid=84 |url-status = dead |archive-date = 2007-06-10 |title = Consulate of the Republic of Hungary |publisher = Ministry for Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Hungary |access-date = 2009-05-03 }} Hungary contributed to relief after the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunami, and has since stepped up aid to Sri Lanka.{{cite web |url=http://www.mfa.gov.hu/kum/en/bal/foreign_policy/bilateral/bilateral_affairs.aspx?d=Political%20%7C%20Diplomatic%20relations&c=118&z=Asia |title=Bilateral Relations (Sri Lanka) |publisher=Ministry for Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Hungary |access-date=2009-05-03 }}{{Dead link|date=December 2021 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} | |
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|{{flag|Thailand}} | 1973-10-24 | * Since 1978, Hungary has an embassy in Bangkok and an honorary consulate in Pattaya.{{cite web|url=http://www.mfa.gov.hu/kulkepviselet/TH/en/mainpage.htm|title=Hungarian embassy in Bangkok|website=Mfa.gov.hu|access-date=8 October 2017|archive-date=5 November 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161105074701/http://www.mfa.gov.hu/kulkepviselet/TH/en/mainpage.htm|url-status=dead}}
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|{{flag|Turkey}} | (See Hungary–Turkey relations) File:İstanbul 5782.jpg at Protestant Cemetery in Şişli, Istanbul.]]
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|{{flag|United Arab Emirates}} | * Hungary has an embassy in Abu Dhabi.
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|{{flag|Vietnam}} | 1950-02-03
|(See Hungary–Vietnam relations)
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=Europe=
=Oceania=
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|{{flag|Australia}} | 1972
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|{{flag|New Zealand}} | * Hungary has an embassy in Wellington.
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Foreign criticism
In December 2010, the Fidesz government adopted a press and media law which threatens fines on media that engage in "unbalanced coverage". The law aroused criticism in the European Union as possibly "a direct threat to democracy".[http://www.ifla.org/publications/the-new-press-and-media-act-in-hungary ‘The New Press and Media Act in Hungary’] (concerning the December 2010 law), by Kai Ekholm and Tarja Svärd-Ylilehto. ifla.org, 5 October 2012. Retrieved 14 May 2015.
In 2013, the government adopted a new constitution that modified several aspects of the institutional and legal framework in Hungary. These changes have been criticized by the Council of Europe, the European Union and Human Rights Watch as possibly undermining the rule of law and human rights protection.{{cite web|url=https://www.hrw.org/news/2013/09/18/hungary-constitutional-change-falls-short|title=Hungary: Constitutional Change Falls Short|work=hrw.org|access-date=17 May 2015 |
date=18 September 2013}}
See also
- List of diplomatic missions in Hungary
- List of diplomatic missions of Hungary
- Visa requirements for Hungarian citizens
- Nikola Gruevski former Prime Minister of Macedonia given asylum in 2018
- Marcin Romanowski Polish politician given asylum in 2024
References
{{Reflist}}
Further reading
- Borhi, László, "In the Power Arena: U.S.-Hungarian Relations, 1942–1989," The Hungarian Quarterly (Budapest), 51 (Summer 2010), pp 67–81.
- Glant, Tibor, "Ninety Years of United States-Hungarian Relations," Eger Journal of American Studies, 13 (2012), pp 163–83.
- Hornyak, Arpad. Hungarian-Yugoslav Diplomatic Relations, 1918–1927 (East European Monographs, distributed by Columbia University Press; 2013) 426 pages.
- Niklasson, Tomas. "Regime stability and foreign policy change: interaction between domestic and foreign policy in Hungary 1956-1994" (PhD dissertation Lund University, 2006) [https://lup.lub.lu.se/search/ws/files/5518011/26661.pdf online].
- Váli, Ferenc A, "The Foreign Policy of Hungary" in Kuhlman, James A (ed.), The Foreign Policies of Eastern Europe: Domestic and International Determinants (Sijthoff, Leyden, 1978).
{{Foreign relations of Hungary}}
{{Hungary articles}}
{{Foreign relations of Europe}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Foreign Relations Of Hungary}}