U.S. Senator Blocks HIMARS Sale to Hungary

U.S. senator James E. Risch, the top Republican on the Foreign Relations Committee, has pulled the plug on the $735 million sale of HIMARS systems to Hungary as punishment its refusal to approve NATO membership for Sweden.

Hungary, a veto-wielding member of both NATO and the 27-member European Union, has not publicly announced its request to purchase HIMARS. In January, local newspaper Szabad Europa reported citing defense ministry officials that Budapest was mulling a purchase.

In a statement to The Washington Post, Risch (Idaho) said Hungary must allow Sweden into NATO if it wants the arms package, which includes 24 HIMARS rocket launcher batteries, and more than 100 rockets and pods along with associated parts and support.

“For some time now, I have directly expressed my concerns to the Hungarian government regarding its refusal to move forward a vote for Sweden to join NATO,” he said. “The fact that it is now June and still not done, I decided that the sale of new U.S. military equipment to Hungary will be on hold.”

All significant arms sales require the chair and ranking members of the Senate and House foreign affairs committees to give clearance and approval before the sale is publicly noticed by the State Department. Risch’s objection prevents the State Department from being able to move forward in the sales process.

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban has blocked European defense funding for Ukraine, stymied sanctions packages and deepened energy ties to Russia.