Hungary to sign defence industry deal with Sweden, PM Orban says
Hungary will sign a defence industry deal with Sweden, Prime Minister Viktor Orban said ahead of a meeting with Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson in Budapest later on Friday, as Hungary prepares to finally ratify Sweden's NATO bid, Reuters reports.
"We will close all pending issues, and we will sign a defence industry deal, a serious one considering Hungary's size, and we will also lay down some decisions or ... goals about military cooperation," Orban told state radio. He gave no details.
The two prime ministers will hold a press conference on Friday, before Hungary's parliament is due to approve Sweden's NATO membership bid in a vote on Monday.
"On Monday the Hungarian parliament will put the final seal on it," Orban told radio.
Sweden applied to join the transatlantic alliance nearly two years ago in a historic policy shift away from non-alignment prompted by Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
Hungary is the only NATO member that has yet to ratify the Nordic country's accession, with Orban's ruling Fidesz party repeatedly delaying a vote, citing grievances over Sweden criticising Hungary over its record on rule-of-law standards.
