US Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Tuesday greeted Hungary, marking the country’s national holiday. In a statement issued by the US Department of State, Blinken congratulated Hungarians “commemorating more than a millennium of your nation’s rich history”. “On this day of celebration, it is my hope that we can work towards a closer relationship between the United States and Hungary, rooted in democratic values, shared security, and prosperity. That is what the deep friendship between our peoples, and the rich history between our nations deserves,” the statement said. Noting that Hungary became a NATO member 25 years ago, Blinken said “Hungary was welcomed into NATO because of its commitment to a democratic future. That commitment, like the deep bonds between our people, should be protected and form the bedrock of Hungary-United States relations.”