Hungary Votes to Approve Sweden's NATO Accession Bid, Expanding Alliance's Presence in Northern Europe

In a historic move, Hungary voted on Monday to approve Sweden's NATO accession bid after months of diplomatic negotiations. This decision finalized Stockholm's membership almost two years after it first applied to join the military alliance. The vote in favor of Sweden's membership came after Hungarian lawmakers overcame long-standing opposition from governing party members led by Prime Minister Viktor Orban.

Sweden's Path to NATO Membership

Sweden applied to join NATO in May 2022, simultaneous to Finland, marking a historic shift in its policy of military non-alignment following Russia's invasion of Ukraine. As the 32nd NATO member, Sweden will now fall under the fold of Article 5 of the treaty, which stipulates that an attack on one member is an attack on all of them. The accession of Sweden expands NATO's presence in Northern Europe, as the alliance seeks to reinforce its defenses.

Despite the majority of NATO members backing Stockholm's bid from the outset, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban had been resistant, particularly due to Swedish criticism over Hungary's democracy. NATO requires unanimous support from all members before allowing a new admission. However, in a meeting in Budapest on Friday, Orban and his Swedish counterpart Ulf Kristersson pledged to overcome their differences. They declared their willingness to stand by each other, with Orban stating, "To be a member of NATO together with another country means we are ready to die for each other." The two countries also sealed a military pact, with Sweden agreeing to sell four new Gripen planes to Hungary, further strengthening their defense cooperation.

Turkey's Agreement and Remaining Concerns

Hungary's vote in support of Sweden's NATO accession bid follows that of Turkey, the other remaining holdout, which agreed last month to ratify Stockholm's membership. Turkey's decision comes after a year-long delay over security concerns, as Ankara had accused Sweden of being too lenient toward groups it viewed as threats, including Kurdish militants and members of a network that it blames for a failed coup in 2016.

The approval of Sweden's NATO membership by Hungary and Turkey marks a significant development in the geopolitical landscape, as it strengthens NATO's presence in Northern Europe and underscores the commitment to collective defense among member states.