- Hungary was the last member of the alliance to agree to Sweden joining NATO.
- The parliament in Budapest approved the Scandinavian country’s accession with a large majority.
- It was a long and rocky road: Sweden applied to join NATO in the spring of 2022.
Hungary’s decision seals Sweden’s acceptance into the transatlantic alliance as the 32nd member state.
Sweden: “A historic day”
Sweden reacted immediately to the news from Budapest. Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson spoke of a “historic day” and emphasized: “We are ready to assume our responsibility in NATO.”
NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg also welcomed the vote. Sweden’s NATO membership will make the alliance stronger and more secure, the Norwegian wrote on X.
According to Prime Minister Viktor Orban, the reason for Hungary’s reversal was that the Swedish Prime Minister’s visit to Budapest on Friday helped to create “respectful” bilateral relations.
Legend:
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban had long resisted Sweden’s entry into the Western defense alliance and only signaled his concession in the last few days.
Keystone/AP Photo/Denes Erdos
Hungary disliked criticism from Sweden
Although differences of opinion remain, because “we, Sweden and Hungary are not the same,” these differences should be viewed with mutual understanding, “as befits serious nations.” Attempts from outside to intervene in these disputes were not helpful.
The Danube country in the southeast of the EU based the blockade on the fact that there had been criticism from Sweden of the democratic conditions in Hungary. Many Fidesz politicians took this as an insult.
Formal signatures are still missing
After the President’s signature in Hungary, the ratification still has to appear in the Hungarian Official Gazette. This can take up to eight days. The ratification must then be formally deposited with the US State Department in Washington. Then Sweden would have the approval of all 31 current NATO members.
Hungary was the last NATO member that still had to agree to Sweden joining. Sweden, together with Finland, applied to join NATO almost two years ago. The two traditionally militarily neutral countries were reacting to the Russian war of aggression against Ukraine. Finland was formally admitted to NATO in April last year.