Hungary’s Prime Minister Orbán Commits to Ratifying Sweden’s Nato Membership
In a surprising turn of events, Hungary’s Prime Minister Viktor Orbán has announced his commitment to ratifying Sweden’s bid to join NATO. This comes after Turkey approved Sweden’s accession to the western military alliance, leaving Hungary as the sole holdout. Orbán expressed his support for Sweden’s membership during a phone call with NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg, stating that he would urge the Hungarian parliament to ratify Sweden’s entry as soon as possible.
The delay in Hungary’s ratification has caused frustration among alliance members, with Orbán’s invitation to Swedish counterpart Ulf Kristersson to negotiate on Sweden’s NATO accession further exacerbating tensions. One western diplomat described their exasperation, stating that Orbán seemed to be “messing us all around a bit, because he can.” However, despite the delays, there is a general feeling that the ratification will eventually be completed without any major issues.
All NATO members, including Hungary, had agreed to bring in Sweden and Finland at the alliance’s summit in 2022. Finland was formally admitted in April last year after both Nordic countries abandoned their decades-old neutrality in favor of NATO membership following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Orbán’s recent actions, such as vetoing a €50 billion aid plan for Ukraine and blocking disbursements from an EU fund for weapons sent to Kyiv, have raised concerns among EU partners and Washington.
Despite these concerns, Stoltenberg expressed his satisfaction with Orbán’s support for Sweden’s NATO membership. He stated that he looked forward to the ratification once parliament reconvenes. The Hungarian National Assembly is scheduled to start its next regular sitting in late February but could be recalled earlier with 48 hours’ notice. With Orbán’s Fidesz party holding a two-thirds majority in parliament and exerting tight control over its members, the ratification process is entirely in the hands of the prime minister.
Orbán has never provided any reasons for the delay in ratification, although he previously stated that Hungary would approve it ahead of Turkey. However, it is worth noting that Sweden has been a vocal critic of the erosion of the rule of law and democratic standards in Hungary during Orbán’s 14-year tenure. Despite this, Stoltenberg has made it his personal mission to ensure the completion of Sweden’s membership process. He has engaged directly with both President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan of Turkey and Orbán over the past 18 months to find diplomatic solutions to their opposition.
Senior NATO officials and diplomats from member states have expressed their discontent with Hungary’s failure to adhere to its promise of not being the last country to ratify Sweden’s membership. However, with Orbán now reaffirming his support and commitment, it is expected that the ratification process will move forward smoothly once parliament reconvenes. The eyes of the international community will be on Hungary as it navigates this crucial decision, which will have far-reaching implications for both NATO and the region as a whole.
