Hungary Approves Sweden’s NATO Membership Bid, Dealing Blow to Putin
In a historic move, Hungary’s parliament has overwhelmingly approved Sweden’s bid to join NATO, dealing a significant blow to Russian President Vladimir Putin. After nearly two years of intense negotiations, Sweden’s accession to the alliance is now cleared, marking a crucial moment for Euro-Atlantic security.
The final hurdle for Stockholm joining NATO was obtaining approval from the Hungarian parliament. Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson visited Budapest on Friday to discuss defense and security cooperation with Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban. The meeting resulted in a positive outcome, with both sides reaching an agreement that would see Hungary acquire four new Swedish-made Gripen fighter jets.
Out of the 194 members of parliament who voted, only six rejected Sweden’s accession, highlighting the overwhelming support for the move. Prime Minister Kristersson expressed his satisfaction, stating, “Today is a historic day. Sweden stands ready to shoulder its responsibility for Euro-Atlantic security.”
Sweden will formally join the alliance once it submits its instrument of accession to the United States government, which serves as the depository of the North Atlantic Treaty. NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg confirmed that Sweden’s membership will be accepted since all allies have approved its bid to join. Stoltenberg emphasized that Sweden’s inclusion will make the alliance stronger and safer.
With Sweden’s accession, NATO will now have 32 member countries. This development is particularly noteworthy as Russia launched its war against Ukraine partly due to the alliance’s expansion in Eastern Europe along Russia’s border. Finland became the 31st NATO member last year, extending the alliance’s frontier with Russia by approximately 1,300 kilometers (830 miles).
As NATO members, both Finland and Sweden will benefit from the protection granted under Article 5 of the treaty, which considers an attack on one member as an attack against all. This provision ensures collective defense and underscores the commitment of NATO members to each other’s security.
The decision of Sweden and Finland to join NATO was a response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, marking a departure from their long-standing policy of non-alignment during the Cold War. NATO operates under an open-door policy, allowing any country expressing interest and willing to uphold the bloc’s founding treaty’s principles to join.
However, the accession rules stipulate that any member state can veto a new country’s entry. While most NATO members swiftly approved Finland and Sweden’s applications, Hungary and Turkey initially held out. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan accused Finland and Sweden of being too lenient toward Kurdish terrorist organizations. Hungarian Prime Minister Orban, on the other hand, claimed that they were spreading “outright lies” about his country’s adherence to European Union standards on the rule of law.
These concerns prompted the European Union to freeze funds meant for Hungary until the issues were addressed. Orban and his government have consistently denied breaching EU rules. Eventually, both Hungary and Turkey softened their stance on Finland’s membership, approving its application last March. The Turkish parliament also approved Sweden’s entry last month after Stockholm tightened its anti-terror legislation and pledged closer cooperation with Turkey on security matters.
In conclusion, Hungary’s approval of Sweden’s NATO membership bid is a significant geopolitical blow to Russian President Vladimir Putin. With Sweden’s accession, NATO expands its reach and strengthens its collective defense capabilities. This development underscores the growing concerns over Russia’s actions in Eastern Europe and the determination of countries like Sweden and Finland to safeguard their security within the alliance.
