As of: February 26, 2024, 11:42 a.m
By: Stefan Krieger
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Press
Split
Sweden is just one step away from NATO membership.
The final decision lies with Hungary's parliament.
The news ticker for voting.
Decision
in Budapest: Will Sweden become the 32nd member of NATO?
Sweden
and
Finland
: Ukraine war prompts entry
This news ticker on Hungary's decision will be continually updated.
Budapest - The Hungarian Parliament will vote on Sweden's accession to NATO on Monday afternoon (February 26th, from 4:20 p.m.).
The vote is the Scandinavian country's last hurdle on the way to the Western military alliance: Hungary is the only NATO member state that has not yet approved Sweden's application for membership.
The right-wing nationalist head of government Viktor Orbán maintains a close relationship with Kremlin boss Vladimir Putin.
In May 2022, traditionally non-aligned Sweden applied for membership in the Western military alliance together with its neighboring country Finland in response to the Russian war of aggression against Ukraine.
Finland was able to join NATO in April 2023, while Sweden had to wait due to the blockades by Turkey and Hungary.
At the end of January, Ankara gave the green light for Swedish accession - now all that is missing is the “yes” from Hungary.
Sweden joins NATO: Hungary signals support
Since Prime Minister Viktor Orbán's Fidesz party recently signaled its support for the ratification of the motion after a long blockade, Parliament's approval is expected.
This would clear the way for Sweden to join the Western defense alliance.
In light of the war in Ukraine, Sweden and Finland applied for membership in NATO in May 2022.
Finland was admitted to the alliance as the 31st member in April 2023.
Sweden, on the other hand, fought for many months longer to get ratifications from NATO members Turkey and Hungary.
Ulf Kristersson (l), Prime Minister of Sweden, and Viktor Orbán.
© Denes Erdos/dpa
Orbán's Fidesz party gives the green light to join NATO
Turkey ended its blockade in January.
Immediately afterwards, the US government initiated the sale of F-16 fighter jets to Ankara.
Hungary also signaled the green light a few days ago.
Leading politicians from Orbán's Fidesz party had previously claimed that they were “offended” because there had been criticism of the democratic conditions in Hungary from Sweden.
This destroyed bilateral trust.
Sweden's Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson must restore this by visiting Budapest.
In addition, they demand that Sweden be treated with the same respect as Turkey, especially since the Swede also traveled to Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan to end his blockade, Fidesz said.
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Kristersson came to Budapest to meet Orbán on Friday.
It was announced that Hungary would buy four new Swedish Jas 39 Gripen fighter jets.
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. This deal was presented by Hungary's government-affiliated media as a victory for Hungarian diplomacy, although it remained unclear to what extent Sweden was supposed to have accommodated Hungary.
Details on the financial conditions were not given.
Sweden into NATO: 30 of the 31 NATO members have agreed so far
At the same time, pressure had increased on Orban to finally let the Swedes into the alliance.
Kristersson's visit and the fighter jet deal gave both sides an opportunity to save face.
Orban emphasized at the press conference with Kristersson that the defense agreement was not a condition for Hungary's NATO ratification.
Nevertheless, he added: “But of course: reaching an agreement on defense and military capacities definitely helps to restore trust between the two countries.”
So far, Sweden has received the approval of 30 of the 31 NATO members.
If the parliament in Budapest ratifies it, it still has to be signed by the President.
This is likely to be one of the first official acts of Tamas Sulyok, whom the Hungarian parliament is likely to elect as head of state for Sweden on Monday shortly after ratification.
Sulyok has no opponent and is supported by Fidesz, which has a two-thirds majority in parliament.
He would succeed Katalin Novak, who announced her resignation as head of state two weeks ago because of her involvement in a pedophilia scandal.
The Hungarian ratification must then be formally deposited with the US State Department in Washington.
A few days later, Sweden could be officially introduced as the alliance's 32nd member with a ceremony in which the Swedish flag will be raised in front of NATO headquarters in Brussels.
(skr/afp/dpa)