Hungary’s parliament approved Sweden’s NATO accession on Monday, clearing the last hurdle before the historic step by the Nordic country whose neutrality lasted through two world wars and the simmering conflict of the Cold War.
Hungary’s vote ended months of delays to complete Sweden’s security policy shift and followed a visit by Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson on Friday during which the two countries signed an arms deal.
“Today is a historic day,” Kristersson said on X. “Sweden stands ready to shoulder its responsibility for Euro-Atlantic security,” he added.
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban’s government has faced pressure from NATO allies to fall in line and seal Sweden’s accession to the alliance.
NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg immediately welcomed Hungary’s ratification. “Sweden’s membership will make us all stronger and safer,” he said on X.
With Sweden following Finland into NATO, President Vladimir Putin has effectively achieved the very thing he sought to avert when he launched his war in Ukraine – an expansion of the alliance, Western leaders have said.
While Finland became a NATO member last year, Sweden was kept waiting as Turkey and Hungary raised some objections.
“Today is a historic day,” Kristersson said on X. “Sweden stands ready to shoulder its responsibility for Euro-Atlantic security,” he added.
Sweden’s NATO membership was supported by 188 lawmakers in Hungarian parliament, with 6 against and no abstentions.Today is a historic day. The parliaments of all NATO member states have now voted in favour of Swedish accession to NATO. Sweden stands ready to shoulder its responsibility for Euro-Atlantic security.
— SwedishPM (@SwedishPM) February 26, 2024
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban’s government has faced pressure from NATO allies to fall in line and seal Sweden’s accession to the alliance.
NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg immediately welcomed Hungary’s ratification. “Sweden’s membership will make us all stronger and safer,” he said on X.
Stockholm abandoned its non-alignment policy for greater safety within the North Atlantic Treaty Organization in the wake of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022.Jens Stoltenberg: "I welcome the Hungarian parliament’s vote to ratify #Sweden’s membership in NATO. Now that all Allies have approved, Sweden will become the 32nd #NATO Ally. Sweden’s membership will make us all stronger and safer." https://t.co/YnvGQKU4Wy pic.twitter.com/mfNjwwgtU1
— NEXTA (@nexta_tv) February 26, 2024
With Sweden following Finland into NATO, President Vladimir Putin has effectively achieved the very thing he sought to avert when he launched his war in Ukraine – an expansion of the alliance, Western leaders have said.
While Finland became a NATO member last year, Sweden was kept waiting as Turkey and Hungary raised some objections.
Source: Reuters
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