Hungary Approves Sweden’s NATO Membership

Hungary’s parliament has voted to allow Sweden to join NATO, ending over a year of delays and expanding the alliance in response to Russia’s ongoing war with Ukraine. The decision was reached after Hungary’s Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, who had previously been hesitant due to his ties with Russia, agreed to support Sweden’s membership following assurances of fighter jet provision from Sweden, as reported by Axios.

The Hungarian parliament’s vote of 188 to six in favor of Sweden’s NATO membership was a crucial step in the process. All NATO member nations must approve a new member, and Hungary was the final holdout until Monday’s decision.

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg welcomed Sweden as the alliance’s 32nd member, stating on social media platform X (formerly known as Twitter) that Sweden’s membership will strengthen the alliance and enhance security for all members.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has previously expressed concern about NATO’s expansion eastward, citing it as a motivation for his actions in Ukraine. Both Sweden and Finland, the latter having joined NATO in April 2023, applied to join the alliance in 2022 following Russia’s initial aggression against Ukraine.

In a significant departure from its longstanding policy of neutrality, Sweden has decided to join NATO to bolster its security in the face of increasing tensions with Russia. This move marks the end of over 200 years of military neutrality for Sweden.

Ulf Kristersson, Sweden’s Prime Minister, expressed the country’s commitment to Euro-Atlantic security, calling Monday “a historic day” in a post on X (formerly known as Twitter).

Sweden’s decision to join NATO reflects a shift in its foreign policy stance, which had previously prioritized neutrality to avoid antagonizing Russia. However, public sentiment in favor of joining the alliance grew significantly after Russia’s aggression against Ukraine in February 2022.

Turkey and Hungary were the last remaining obstacles to Sweden’s NATO membership. Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan had voiced concerns about Sweden’s perceived leniency towards groups Turkey considers terrorists. However, after US President Biden supported Turkey’s request to purchase 40 new F-16 fighter jets, Turkey voted last month to allow Sweden to join NATO.

Sweden’s decision to join NATO underscores the evolving security dynamics in Europe amid Russia’s actions in Ukraine. The move is likely to have significant implications for regional security and NATO’s strategic posture in the Baltic Sea region.