Hungary ratifies Sweden's NATO bid in historic move

Sweden is set to become the 32nd member of NATO after the Hungarian Parliament almost unanimously approved the Nordic country's bid.

In total, 188 Hungarian MPs voted in favor of ratification on Monday (February 26), with six against.

Shortly after the vote, Sweden's Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson called the day "historic", saying his country was ready to defend the alliance.

"With Sweden in NATO, the Nordic Region has a common defense for the first time in 500 years," said Kristersson.

When Russia attacked Ukraine, Sweden decided to abandon its long-standing policy of military neutrality. But it took Hungary about 18 months to bring Sweden's bid to a vote due to a widening rift between the two EU member countries. 

That was partly due to Stockholm's criticism of the alleged degradation of the rule of law in Hungary, which Budapest considered unfair. Hungarian lawmakers had demanded an apology from their Swedish counterparts and insisted on a face-to-face meeting between Kristersson and Hungary's Prime Minister Viktor Orban.

Initially, Sweden said such a meeting would only happen after the Hungarian Parliament voted, but in a sudden change, the leaders met last Friday (February 23) in Budapest.

After their talks, Hungary and Sweden announced a new chapter in their relationship and signed a defense agreement that included Hungary's purchase of Swedish-made Gripen fighter jets.

"Being members of NATO means that we are prepared to die for each other. It is based on mutual respect," said Orban. "Taking that process at an appropriate pace has been wise."‌

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Domestically, this was seen as a win for Budapest, given that Hungary's air force consists of fewer than 50 aircraft.

With Sweden's NATO membership, the alliance gains a member state with a well-trained and sophisticated military.

Among the Swedish population, support for joining NATO jumped after the Ukraine conflict began, with two-thirds expressing their support for the alliance, as they perceived Russia as a threat. The country also worked towards raising its military spending to 2 percent, in line with NATO's target for member states.

‌The Nordic country's military hardware is also of note, according to military analysts. It has a modern air force, with Gripen planes and submarines specially adapted to the conditions in the Baltic Sea.

Finland joined NATO last year after a far quicker accession process. The addition of the two new members marks the bloc's largest expansion since the 1990s.

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