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Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban (r) speaks with Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson during a press conference in Budapest.
© Marton Monus/dpa
Hungary and Sweden announce a new fighter jet deal.
This is not a coincidence at this point.
Budapest - Shortly before Hungary's expected approval of Sweden's NATO accession, the two countries agreed on a comprehensive arms deal.
Hungary will purchase four new Swedish Jas 39 Gripen fighter jets, it was announced at a press conference with Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban and Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson in Budapest.
In addition, the two EU countries extended a maintenance and logistics agreement for the previous 14 Gripen aircraft, which Hungary has leased from Sweden since 2006 and which are due to become fully Hungarian owned in 2026, by ten years until 2036.
“The basis of Hungarian foreign policy is to gather friends, even if you don’t always see them,” said Orban.
Both politicians emphasized that it was important to work together more closely on those points on which they agreed and to accept that there could also be differences of opinion.
Kristersson said: “We are both members of the EU, we will soon be allies in NATO.”
With his visit to the Hungarian capital, Kristersson fulfilled a condition that leading politicians from right-wing populist Orban's Fidesz party had set for approval of Sweden's accession to NATO.
The corresponding ratification is expected in Hungary's parliament this Monday.
Hungary blocked Sweden's accession to NATO
The Fidesz faction had refused the green light for Sweden to join NATO for months.
The reason given was repeatedly that they were “offended” by Swedish criticism of the rule of law in Hungary.
Sweden must ensure that trust is restored.
Kristersson's visit was also requested on the grounds that he had also traveled to Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in order to bring about an end to Turkey's blockade against his country's accession to NATO.
Orban said on Hungarian radio this morning that the Fidesz faction had given in because he had changed their minds with the prospect of military cooperation with Sweden.
The “process of building trust” with Sweden will now be completed, Orban said.
Regarding the “insults” from Sweden that Fidesz has complained about so far, Orban said: “Sweden regulates its life according to different values than Hungary and both sides have to accept that we are not the same.” dpa