BREAKING: Hungarian Parliament votes in favour, Sweden to join NATO – UPDATE
188 members voted in favour of the proclamation of the Accession Treaty, six against it. This ends a year and a half of wrangling over NATO enlargement.
Six members of Mi Hazánk voted against it, and all others voted in favour.
Sweden announced on 25 April 2022 that it would apply to join NATO, together with Finland. At the time, the two countries were promised swift accession. The application was officially submitted on 18 May 2022 and approved by NATO in July.
Hungary did not start to hesitate until March 2023, almost a year after the country announced its intention to join. Last March, the Hungarian parliament approved the Finnish accession, but
for almost a year, it was not clear what Hungary’s problem was with Sweden.
As late as February 2023, Fidesz-KDNP party leaders announced that, despite having submitted draft legislation on ratification almost a year earlier, a debate on accession had emerged in the parliamentary group. The substance of the debate has not been clarified since then.
As we wrote earlier, Hungary is expanding its air force’s fleet of Gripen fighter jets with four new aircraft, PM Viktor Orbán said after meeting Swedish counterpart Ulf Kristersson in Budapest, details HERE.
Read also:
- Swedish PM is in Budapest: NATO accession on the agenda – details, PHOTOS
UPDATE
NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg welcomed parliament’s vote.
“I welcome the Hungarian parliament’s vote to ratify Sweden’s membership in NATO,”
he said on social media platform X. “Now that all Allies have approved, Sweden will become the 32nd NATO Ally. Sweden’s membership will make us all stronger and safer.”
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.
— Jens Stoltenberg (@jensstoltenberg) February 26, 2024
Pictures from the Hungarian parliament
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
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