In a move signalling improved bilateral ties, the United States on Tuesday fully restored Hungary’s status in its visa waiver programme, after the Hungarian government acted to address security concerns, the Trump administration announced.
The decision is one of the first tangible signs of improved relations between the US and Hungarian governments under President Donald Trump’s administration. Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban has long been a Trump ally.
The Visa Waiver Programme permits citizens from about 40 countries to travel to the United States for stays of up to 90 days without a visa.
Reversing Biden Era Rules
In 2021, the US Homeland Security Department revoked already-issued electronic approvals of all Hungarian passport holders born outside of Hungary and continued to deny new applications to Hungarian applicants born outside of Hungary.
In August 2023, the Biden Administration reduced the validity period for Hungarian travelers from two years to one year, while also limiting electronic approvals to a single use.
“Now that the government of Hungary has taken action requested by the US government to address security vulnerabilities, the restrictions imposed by the previous administration have been lifted,” DHS said on Tuesday.
Looking For A Wide-Ranging Economic Agreement
While Orban and Trump have established a strong personal rapport, relations between the two countries are not without their frictions.
Orban, whose country is a European Union member, had hoped for a wide-ranging economic agreement to be signed with the Trump administration, but it has not yet materialized.
The US and the EU struck a framework trade agreement on July 27 that imposed a 15% import tariff on most EU goods, averting a bigger trade war. However, the deal hurts Hungary because of its auto exports, which had previously incurred a tariff of just 2.5%.
Hungary also remains heavily reliant on Russian gas and crude supplies, while Trump is pressuring the EU to speed up its efforts to end all energy imports from Russia.
At the same time, the Orban government’s anti-immigration policies have earned admiration in MAGA circles in the United States. Orban also welcomed Trump’s decision earlier this year to shut down USAID, the main US foreign aid agency.
(With inputs from Reuters)
