Hungary Prime Minister Orbán Takes Step to Address NATO Deadlock Over Sweden

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán has reached out to his Swedish counterpart, Ulf Kristersson, with an invitation to Budapest for discussions regarding Sweden’s NATO membership, in a bid to break the deadlock surrounding the issue.

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Hungary and Turkey: The Remaining Hurdles

As of now, Hungary and Turkey are the only NATO member countries that have not ratified Sweden’s request to join the alliance. NATO membership requires unanimous consent from all member states.

Delays Causing Frustration

However, delays in Budapest and Ankara have frustrated other NATO allies, particularly in the face of Russia’s conflict in Ukraine.

Orbán’s Stance on Sweden’s NATO Bid

Credit: Bucharest, Romania – Dec. 17, 2022: Plenary session of the Agreement On Strategic Partnership In The Field Of Green Energy Development And Transmission between Azerbaijan, Georgia, Romania and Hungary — Photo by llcv

Viktor Orbán, a right-wing populist leader known for his stance on various international matters, has consistently promised that Hungary will not be the last NATO member to endorse Sweden’s accession.

Turkey’s Progress and Conditions

In a recent development, the Turkish parliament’s foreign affairs committee approved Sweden’s accession protocol, bringing Sweden closer to NATO membership.

Erdogan’s Change of Heart

Credit: KIEV, UKRAINE – Mar. 20, 2015: Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and President of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko during a meeting in Kiev — Photo by palinchak

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan withdrew his objections to Sweden’s NATO bid last year, partly in response to Sweden’s efforts to address concerns related to Kurdish militants and other groups Ankara perceives as security threats.

Purchase of F-16s

Erdogan also linked Sweden’s NATO membership to Turkey’s purchase of U.S.-made F-16 fighter jets and called for arms embargoes on Turkey to be lifted.

Hungarian Concerns and Demands

Orbán asserts that his government supports Sweden’s entry into NATO, but members of his governing Fidesz party remain skeptical due to what he calls “blatant lies” by Swedish politicians regarding Hungary’s democratic conditions.

However, Orbán has not specified what measures or assurances would address these reservations.

Orbán’s Invitation to Kristersson

Credit: Brussels, Belgium on Jun. 28, 2018.Prime Minster of Hungary Victor Ornab arrives for a meeting with European Union leaders. — Photo by Ale_Mi

In his letter to Ulf Kristersson, Orbán proposed a more substantial political dialogue between Sweden and Hungary to bolster mutual trust.

He extended an invitation to discuss future security and defense cooperation as NATO allies and partners.

Sweden’s Response

Swedish Foreign Minister Tobias Billström refrained from confirming whether Kristersson would accept Orbán’s invitation, emphasizing the need to analyze the letter’s implications.

Billström expressed hope that Hungary would ratify Sweden’s NATO membership promptly.

Sweden and Finland’s NATO Aspirations

Both Sweden and Finland, following decades of neutrality, sought NATO membership due to heightened security concerns following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.

Finland became the 31st member of NATO last year, leaving Hungary and Turkey as the final two countries to ratify its bid.

Upcoming Parliamentary Assembly

Credit: Flag of NATO on background of sky. Moscow, Russia – April, 2023 — Stock Editorial Photography

Unless an emergency parliamentary session is convened in Hungary to discuss the matter, the next scheduled assembly is set for February 26, which may hold significance for the progress of Sweden’s NATO membership.