The New York Times reported Friday that Hungary has given Sweden the green light to join NATO after holding out for more than a year.
Hungary was the last NATO member to approve Sweden's entry into the alliance, but Prime Minister Viktor Orbán said on Friday the time had come to do so. according to To NYT. Hungary had held off on ratifying Sweden's bid over a 19-month dispute between the two countries. (Related: NATO members suddenly poised to meet military spending goals, days after President Trump denounces the alliance)
“We are ready to fight and sacrifice our lives for each other,” Prime Minister Viktor Orbán said at a joint press conference in Budapest with Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson. “Today's meeting marks a milestone in a long process that is also a process of rebuilding trust, and today we can mark the end of this phase.”
Today we open a new stage of cooperation between Hungary and Sweden. @Sweden PM Ulf Christerson. Thank you for your visit, Prime Minister! 🇭🇺🇸🇪 pic.twitter.com/tygr5OcxUP
— Viktor Orban (@PM_ViktorOrban) February 23, 2024
According to the NYT, Orbán's green light came just hours after Sweden approved the provision of four Swedish-made Gripen jets, in addition to Hungary's 14 existing jets. Sweden also assured Hungary that fighter jet maker Saab would build a new AI hub there.
According to the NYT, Sweden's Gripen jets are an essential part of the Hungarian Air Force, as Hungary itself does not have a large military. Mr. Orbán was hailed in Hungarian media as a master military negotiator who stuck to the fighter jet agreement.
According to the NYT, Prime Minister Orbán declared that approval of Sweden's NATO bid had nothing to do with the country's promise of fighter jets or new AI capabilities. Rather, he attributed it to a return to trust between the two countries after months of Sweden expressing disrespect towards Hungary.
Prime Minister Viktor Orbán and his government have previously criticized Sweden's accusations that Hungarian democracy is crumbling under him, anti-Hungarian content taught in schools, and criticism of Hungary even before Kristersson took office. comments that were the cause of this resistance.
According to the NYT, the Biden administration and several members of Congress are pressuring Prime Minister Orbán to accept Sweden's NATO offer, and tensions are rising over Hungary's reluctance to provide aid to Ukraine. A delegation of parliamentarians visited Budapest last week but was not welcomed. Hungarian officials refused to meet with the delegation, and the foreign minister made it clear that “it is not worth it for US senators to visit and try to exert pressure.”
If Sweden joins NATO, there will be 32 countries in the alliance. All other member states have already approved Sweden's bid.
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