The final obstacle to Sweden’s NATO membership has fallen. After more than 600 days of opposition, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban has given the Nordic country the green light to move forward on its path to becoming a member of the transatlantic military alliance.
The Hungarian Parliament voted on February 26 in favor of ratifying Sweden's NATO accession protocol, and in a few days the Nordic country will be able to officially become the alliance's 32nd member state.
“Today is a historic day,” said a jubilant Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson. “We are ready to assume our responsibility for Euro-Atlantic security.”
The vote in the Hungarian Parliament was 188 votes in favour and 6 against after Mr Orban “opened the conversation”, making it clear that deputies of his ruling Fidesz Party would have no “hesitations” about ratification.
“Sweden’s accession to NATO will strengthen Hungary’s security,” Mr Orban said, calling Mr Kristersson’s previous visit to the Hungarian capital an essential step towards building “fair and respectful relations between the two countries”.
Earlier on February 23, Mr. Kristersson and Mr. Orban met in Budapest to discuss defense and security cooperation, with the specific result that Hungary will be able to buy four new Gripen fighter jets made by Sweden, in exchange for the Central European country no longer hindering Stockholm on the path to becoming a NATO member.
NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg welcomed “the vote by the Hungarian Parliament to ratify Sweden’s membership in NATO. Now that all allies have approved, Sweden will become NATO’s 32nd ally. Sweden’s membership will make us all stronger and safer.”
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said all allies would benefit from Sweden's membership. "It is good that the Hungarian parliament has approved Sweden's accession," Scholz said.
The ceremony to admit new members could be held at NATO headquarters in Brussels as early as March 1.
The Hungarian Parliament voted in favour of ratifying Sweden's NATO accession protocol, with 188 votes in favour and 6 against, on February 26, 2024. Photo: Al Jazeera
For the US, Stockholm's accession to NATO is important because NATO is key to the Washington-led effort to counter Moscow, especially in light of Russia's campaign in Ukraine, and the defense alliance has long played a central role in maintaining US security and interests in Europe.
For Sweden, the Russia-Ukraine conflict in the heart of the “old continent” has pushed the Nordic country to abandon its decades-long military non-alignment and move toward the world's largest military alliance.
Sweden's successful admission comes amid growing uncertainty about NATO's future, as Donald Trump, the Republican frontrunner in the US presidential race in November, threatens to abandon security guarantees for at least part of Europe if he returns to the White House.
Both Sweden and its neighbor Finland applied to join NATO in May 2022, just months after Russia invaded Ukraine. Finland formally joined the alliance in April last year.
Ukraine has also lobbied to join the alliance. Kiev submitted an accelerated membership application in September 2022, but its request has divided NATO members.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has criticized NATO for not setting a specific timetable for Ukraine’s membership. Last summer, US President Joe Biden said it would be “premature” for Ukraine to begin the process of joining before the fighting ended .
Minh Duc (According to Axios, EU News, Politico EU)
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