The Hungarian parliament will vote on Sweden’s application for NATO membership on Monday. Approval is expected, which would pave the way for Sweden to join the Western defense alliance.
21 months after submitting the application, Sweden is likely to overcome the last major hurdle on the bumpy road to NATO. In light of the war in Ukraine, the governments of Sweden and Finland applied for membership of the defense alliance in May 2022. Finland was admitted as the 31st member in April 2023. Sweden continued to fight for ratifications by the governments of Turkey and Hungary.
The Turkish government ended the blockade in January. The US government then sold F16 fighter jets to the Turkish government. The Hungarian government also gave the green light a few days ago. Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson came to Budapest on Friday to meet his colleague Viktor Orban. At times it was announced that Hungary would buy four new Swedish Jas 39 Gripen fighter jets (see video above).
The pressure increased
In recent months, pressure has increased on Orban to admit Sweden to the military alliance. “Concluding an agreement on defense and military capabilities certainly contributes to restoring trust between the two countries,” Kristersson said in Budapest.
If the Hungarian parliament agrees in plenary, the ratification must still be formally filed with the US State Department in Washington. Official entry would be possible a few days later.
Source: Krone
I am Wallace Jones, an experienced journalist. I specialize in writing for the world section of Today Times Live. With over a decade of experience, I have developed an eye for detail when it comes to reporting on local and global stories. My passion lies in uncovering the truth through my investigative skills and creating thought-provoking content that resonates with readers worldwide.
