Hungary–United States relations

Hungarian – American relations
Diplomatic mission
Hungarian Embassy, Washington, D.C.	United States Embassy, Budapest
Envoy
Ambassador László Szabó	David Pressman

According to the 2012 U.S. Global Leadership Report, 38% of Hungarians approve of U.S. leadership, with 20% disapproving and 42% uncertain, a decrease from 53% approval in 2011.^[1] According to a 2018 poll, 68% of Hungarians view the United States favorably.^[2]

History

Until 1867 the Kingdom of Hungary was a part of the Austrian Empire and from 1867 to 1918 of the dual monarchy of Austria-Hungary. United States diplomatic relations with Hungary were conducted through the United States Ambassador to Austria in Vienna. After the dissolution of the Austro-Hungarian Empire following World War I, Hungary and the United States established bilateral relations through a legation in Budapest established in 1921. The first American ambassador to Hungary (Theodore Brentano) was appointed on February 10, 1922.

Diplomatic relations were interrupted during World War II. Hungary severed relations with the U.S. on December 11, 1941, when the United States declared war on Germany. Two days later, on December 13, Hungary declared war on the United States. On June 5, 1942, the United States declared war on Hungary.^[3] The US declared war on Romania and Bulgaria the same day. The declaration of war passed both houses of Congress unanimously, by votes of 361–0 in the House of Representatives and 73–0 in the Senate.^[4]^[5] 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 reopened.^{[citation needed]}

Relations between the United States and Hungary following World War II were affected by the Soviet armed forces' occupation of Hungary. Full diplomatic relations were established at the legation level on October 12, 1945, before the signing of the Hungarian peace treaty on February 10, 1947. After the communist takeover in 1947–48, relations with the People's Republic of Hungary became increasingly strained by the nationalization of U.S.-owned property and what the United States considered unacceptable treatment of U.S. citizens and personnel, as well as restrictions on the operations of the American legation. Though relations deteriorated further after the suppression of the Hungarian Revolution of 1956, an exchange of ambassadors in 1966 inaugurated an era of improving relations. In 1972, a consular convention was concluded to provide consular protection to U.S. citizens in Hungary.

In 1973, a bilateral agreement was reached under which Hungary settled the nationalization claims of American citizens. On 6 January 1978, the United States returned the Holy Crown of Hungary, which had been safeguarded by the United States since the end of World War II. Symbolically and actually, this event marked the beginning of excellent relations between the two countries. A 1978 bilateral trade agreement included extension of most-favored-nation status to Hungary. Cultural and scientific exchanges were expanded. As Hungary began to pull away from the Soviet orbit, the United States offered assistance and expertise to help establish a constitution, a democratic political system, and a plan for a free market economy.

Between 1989 and 1993, the Support for East European Democracy (SEED) Act provided more than $136 million for economic restructuring and private-sector development. The Hungarian-American Enterprise Fund has offered loans, equity capital, and technical assistance to promote private-sector development. The U.S. Government has provided expert and financial assistance for the development of modern and Western institutions in many policy areas, including national security, law enforcement, free media, environmental regulations, education, and health care. American direct investment has had a direct, positive impact on the Hungarian economy and on continued good bilateral relations. When Hungary acceded to NATO in April 1999, it became a formal ally of the United States. This move has been consistently supported by the 1.5 million-strong Hungarian-American community. The U.S. government supported Hungarian accession to the European Union in 2004, and continues to work with Hungary as a valued partner in the Transatlantic relationship. Hungary joined the Visa Waiver Program in 2008.

High-level mutual visits

Guest	Host	Place of visit	Date of visit
Prime Minister Ferenc Nagy	President Harry S. Truman	Washington, D.C., New York City	June 11–17, 1946 (1946-06-11 – 1946-06-17)
Prime Minister Károly Grósz	President Ronald Reagan	Washington, D.C.	July 26–28, 1988 (1988-07-26 – 1988-07-28)
President George H. W. Bush	Prime Minister Miklós Németh	Budapest	July 11–13, 1989 (1989-07-11 – 1989-07-13)
Acting President Árpád Göncz	President George H. W. Bush	Washington, D.C.	May 18, 1990
Prime Minister József Antall			October 18, 1990
President Árpád Göncz			May 23, 1991
Prime Minister József Antall			October 4, 1991
President Árpád Göncz	President Bill Clinton		April 20–22, 1993 (1993-04-20 – 1993-04-22)
President Árpád Göncz	President Bill Clinton		June 20–21, 1994 (1994-06-20 – 1994-06-21)
President Bill Clinton	President Árpád Göncz Prime Minister Gyula Horn	Budapest	December 5, 1994
Prime Minister Gyula Horn	President Bill Clinton	Washington, D.C.	June 6, 1995
President Bill Clinton	President Árpád Göncz Prime Minister Gyula Horn	Taszar	December 13, 1996
President Árpád Göncz	President Bill Clinton	Washington, D.C.	March 17–18, 1998 (1998-03-17 – 1998-03-18)
Prime Minister Viktor Orbán			October 5–8, 1998 (1998-10-05 – 1998-10-08)
Prime Minister Viktor Orbán			April 23–25, 1999 (1999-04-23 – 1999-04-25)
President Árpád Göncz		Washington, D.C., Chicago	June 6–9, 1999 (1999-06-06 – 1999-06-09)
Prime Minister Viktor Orbán	President George W. Bush	Washington, D.C.	May 29, 2001
Prime Minister Péter Medgyessy			November 7–9, 2002 (2002-11-07 – 2002-11-09)
Prime Minister Péter Medgyessy			June 21–23, 2004 (2004-06-21 – 2004-06-23)
Prime Minister Ferenc Gyurcsány			October 3–7, 2005 (2005-10-03 – 2005-10-07)
President George W. Bush	President László Sólyom Prime Minister Ferenc Gyurcsány	Budapest	June 21–22, 2006 (2006-06-21 – 2006-06-22)
Prime Minister Gordon Bajnai	President Barack Obama	Washington, D.C.	December 4, 2009
Prime Minister Viktor Orbán		Chicago	May 20–21, 2012 (2012-05-20 – 2012-05-21)
		Washington, D.C.	March 31 – April 1, 2016 (2016-03-31 – 2016-04-01)
	President Donald Trump	Washington, D.C.	May 13, 2019