What the Hungarian media has been speculating about for days is now clear. Hungary will receive four new Swedish Gripen fighter planes, expanding its fleet. To this end, Prime Minister Viktor Orbán and his Swedish counterpart Ulf Kristersson signed an arms deal in Budapest on Friday. In return, Sweden’s accession to NATO will ultimately be ratified in Hungary.
During a joint press conference, two agreements were signed to amend the Gripen fighter contract. This involves the purchase of new fighter aircraft and the provision of logistics systems and support services. Orbán announced the creation of his own air defense, which would require Swedish assistance. This will be achieved through the purchase of four new fighter aircraft, expanding the Gripen fleet to 14 aircraft. When the lease contract expires in 2026, the previously leased aircraft would pass into Hungarian hands.
Orbán promises ratification of NATO accession
Orbán also stressed the importance of building trust between Hungary and Sweden and promised that the Hungarian parliament would ratify Sweden’s NATO membership on Monday. He also praised the positive trade cooperation between the two countries. Compared to 2010, the trading volume is said to have doubled.
Kristersson described the discussions with his Hungarian colleague as “constructive”. Despite partly different positions, both countries agree “that we must cooperate more actively if we have common ground,” he emphasized.
The Hungarian media described the Swedish Prime Minister’s visit to Hungary as a “grand gesture”. At the same time, it is alleged that Sweden ultimately gave in to Orbán’s “blackmail” in the interest of ratifying its NATO membership.
The war in Ukraine changed the security situation
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.
Source: Krone
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