Pompeo visits Hungary, to raise concerns about China, Russia

BUDAPEST, Hungary — U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo (pahm-PAY’-oh) is in Hungary on the first leg of a five-nation European tour on which he’ll raise concerns about China and Russia’s growing influence in Central Europe.

Pompeo is to meet in Budapest on Monday with Hungary’s nationalist Prime Minister Viktor Orban to stress the importance of promoting democracy and the rule of law. Officials say he’ll make the case that such steps are key to countering Russian and Chinese efforts to pull Hungary and other countries in the region away from the West.

The officials say Pompeo will point to Central Europe’s reliance on Russian energy and the presence of the Chinese high-tech telecom firm Huawei (WAH’-way), particularly in Hungary.

The officials weren’t authorized to publicly discuss Pompeo’s travel and spoke on the condition of anonymity.

Matthew Lee, The Associated Press

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