Hungary Approves Sweden's NATO Membership on Monday
The Hungarian Parliament is set to approve Sweden's NATO membership on Monday, the final step for the Nordic nation eager to join the alliance following Russia's invasion of Ukraine, as reported by AFP.
Sweden's path has been marked by delays and challenges. Difficult negotiations with Turkey concluded in a positive vote in January, but the process was further stalled by Hungarian nationalist leader Viktor Orban. The Hungarian Prime Minister, although initially supportive, demanded more deference from Stockholm, which he criticised as overly harsh towards his policies.
The situation was resolved in recent weeks. Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson's visit on Friday marked a turning point in rebuilding trust, according to Prime Minister Orban.
In a sign of improved relations, Hungary announced the purchase of four Swedish fighter jets, strengthening its existing fleet.
The vote in Budapest's Parliament, scheduled for Monday afternoon, is expected to pass easily given the ruling coalition's majority. The opposition will also likely vote in favour, with the exception of the far-right Our Homeland party.
Sweden's NATO accession protocol, which requires the unanimity of the 31 members of the North Atlantic Alliance, has been suspended since May 2022. Sweden announced its candidacy following the Kremlin's offensive in Ukraine, at the same time as Finland, which joined NATO in April 2023.
Throughout this period, Hungary has invoked various pretexts. Some experts have seen this approach as a blackmail strategy by Budapest to obtain concessions from the EU, as well as the unblocking of billions of euros in currently frozen funds, while others have seen it as a sign of Prime Minister Viktor Orban's closeness to Russian President Vladimir Putin and Turkish leader Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
Translation by Iurie Tataru
