Final hurdle for the alliance: Hungary will decide today whether Sweden will join NATO

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Hungary’s parliament will vote on Monday afternoon on Sweden’s accession to NATO, which would see the Scandinavian country overcome the final hurdle on its way to the Western military alliance. The vote in Budapest is scheduled for 4:20 p.m. Hungary is the only NATO member state that has not yet approved Sweden’s membership application. Right-wing nationalist government leader Viktor Orban (60) maintains a close relationship with Kremlin boss Vladimir Putin (71).

The ruling Fidesz party, whose coalition has a two-thirds majority in parliament, had already announced that it would vote in favor of Sweden joining NATO. Approval is also expected from all opposition parties, with the exception of the right-wing extremist Ons Huis party.

Sweden has stood still for months

Once Parliament has given the green light, the president must still sign the accession protocol. Sweden can then deposit its accession certificate in Washington and officially become the 32nd member of the military alliance.

Although Hungary initially declared that it supported Swedish accession in principle, it subsequently blocked the membership candidate for months, partly on the grounds that Sweden ‘disparaged’ the Hungarian government and accused it of violating the rule of law.

“Complete one phase and start another”

After a visit by Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson (60) to Budapest on Friday, an intensification of military cooperation between the two countries was agreed: Hungary would purchase four more Swedish-made fighter jets, Orban announced three days before the vote. “The Hungarian parliament will meet on Monday and take the necessary decisions,” he added. This “closes a phase and starts a new one”.

Orban had previously stated on Hungarian radio that “some outstanding military and arms policy issues” still needed to be clarified before the Hungarian parliament could “finally seal” the ratification of Sweden’s accession to NATO.

In May 2022, traditionally non-aligned Sweden, together with neighboring country Finland, applied for membership in the Western military alliance in response to Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine. Finland could join NATO in April 2023, while Sweden had to wait due to the blockades by Turkey and Hungary. Ankara gave the green light for Sweden’s accession at the end of January. (AFP)

Source: Blick