Hungary’s Mandiner news portal has criticized the U.S. sanctioning of Antal Rogán, Hungary’s cabinet office minister, calling the move highly unusual and politically charged. Rogán, a close ally of Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, became the target of sanctions from the U.S. Treasury Department, which cited general corruption concerns.
In the official statement, U.S. Treasury Under Secretary for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence, Bradley T. Smith, accused Rogán of using his position to enrich himself and his associates at the expense of the people of Hungary. While the statement did not offer specific examples of corruption, it referred broadly to the 2023 Corruption Perceptions Index by Transparency International (TI), a group known for its ties to U.S. interests, including George Soros-affiliated organizations.
The sanctions were issued under the U.S. government’s Global Magnitsky Human Rights Accountability Act, a law that allows the U.S. to penalize individuals for corruption or human rights abuses. Though originally passed to punish Russian officials involved in the death of Sergei Magnitsky, the law has been applied globally, with over 650 individuals sanctioned since its inception.
Former U.S. Ambassador to Hungary, David Pressman, acknowledged the rarity of such a sanction, admitting, “It is not common for the United States to designate a sitting minister, even less common to do so in an Allied country.”
This sanction has raised eyebrows, especially given the context of U.S.-Hungarian relations. Historically, sanctions have targeted individuals involved in serious corruption, with examples such as Afghan politician Ajmal Rahmani and Latvian politician Aivars Lembergs—both sanctioned for corruption-related crimes. In comparison, Rogán’s sanction appears less grounded in specific criminal actions, making it stand out as an unexpected diplomatic move.
The timing of the sanction is particularly striking, coming just weeks before President Joe Biden’s administration hands over the reins to his successor. With tensions already high between Washington and Budapest over Orbán’s anti-globalist stance, this move feels like a final jab from an outgoing administration eager to make its mark.
Rogán’s sanction is seen by many as part of a broader pattern of the Biden administration’s use of state power to target foreign leaders who resist globalist agendas. With Trump likely to assume office soon, and anti-globalist sentiments rising across Europe, the U.S. government’s decision to slap sanctions on a key Hungarian minister may signal a last-ditch attempt to undermine Hungary’s sovereignty before the political shift.
Hungary, under Orbán’s leadership, has long defied the EU and globalist forces, taking a stand on issues like migration, sovereignty, and economic independence. This sanction could be interpreted not just as a condemnation of alleged corruption but as a politically motivated move to weaken Hungary’s resistance to globalist policies.
The Biden administration’s aggressive stance, using diplomatic and financial pressure, paints a picture of a U.S. government eager to maintain influence in Europe, even as it faces internal turmoil and a shift in leadership. For many, it’s seen as an unfair attack on Hungary’s sovereignty—a “slap in the face” to both Rogán and Hungary’s nationalist, anti-globalist stance.
The U.S. has long been accused of wielding its power to promote globalist interests, and with Hungary standing firm against those pressures, it’s clear that the sanction of Rogán is a symbolic strike against a country that refuses to conform.
