Hungary’s Prime Minister Viktor Orban has announced his support for Sweden’s bid to join NATO, potentially removing the final obstacle to Sweden’s accession after months of negotiations. Orban conveyed his government’s support for Sweden’s NATO membership to NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg, stating, “I reaffirmed that the Hungarian government supports the NATO membership of Sweden.” He further informed Stoltenberg that he would urge Hungary’s National Assembly to vote in favor of Sweden’s bid at the earliest opportunity.
Until recently, Hungary was one of two countries that had objected to and hindered Sweden’s entry into NATO. However, on Tuesday, the Turkish parliament voted in favor of Sweden’s bid, allowing President Recep Tayyip Erdogan to sign the protocol into law. This development marked a significant turning point in Sweden’s journey towards NATO membership.
Sweden and Finland had both applied for NATO membership in May 2022, following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine earlier that year. Finland successfully joined NATO in April 2023, effectively doubling the alliance’s border with Russia. However, Sweden faced numerous challenges that delayed its accession process.
One of the major obstacles was Erdogan’s objection to Sweden’s membership bid. Erdogan accused Swedish officials of being too lenient on militant groups, particularly the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK). In response, Sweden tightened its anti-terror legislation and pledged closer cooperation with Turkey on security matters. Another contentious issue arose when Sweden approved a small Quran-burning demonstration outside a mosque in Stockholm during the Muslim holiday of Eid-al-Adha. Turkey’s Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan condemned this decision, stating that “to turn a blind eye to such heinous acts is to be complicit in them.”
Erdogan eventually approved Sweden’s bid, partly due to a commitment from the United States. Erdogan made it clear that he would not sign the protocol into law unless Washington approved the sale of F-16 fighter jets to Ankara. The approval from the US was crucial in securing Erdogan’s support. The US Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chair, Ben Cardin, confirmed that Congress is awaiting the completion of accession documents before proceeding with the matter.
Orban, who is often seen as the European Union leader closest to Russian President Vladimir Putin, initially indicated that he did not oppose Sweden’s NATO membership. However, he later worked to stall the process, leading to speculation that his actions were favoring Putin’s interests. Katalin Cseh, a Hungarian Member of the European Parliament, criticized Orban’s obstruction of Sweden’s bid, stating that it was “quite simply, another favor to Vladimir Putin.”
Following the Turkish parliament’s decision, Orban expressed a change of heart and invited his Swedish counterpart, Ulf Kristersson, to visit Hungary for negotiations regarding the terms of Sweden’s accession. This move signaled a significant shift in Orban’s stance.
NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg expressed satisfaction with his conversation with Orban, stating that they had a “good call.” Stoltenberg eagerly awaits the ratification of Sweden’s accession when parliament reconvenes.
Sweden’s path to NATO membership has been challenging, but with Hungary’s support and the Turkish parliament’s approval, the final hurdle seems to have been overcome. The addition of Sweden to NATO would further strengthen the alliance and send a clear message to Russia regarding the unity and resolve of its member states.