Nominee for President of Hungary, Tamas Sulyok looks on as people applaud, during the spring session of parliament in Budapest, Hungary, February 26, 2024. REUTERS/Bernadett Szabo/File Photo
Hungary’s President Tamas Sulyok has ratified the legislation facilitating Sweden’s entrance into the NATO military alliance, as announced by the president’s office on Tuesday. This act paves the way for Sweden to become the 32nd member of the alliance in the imminent future.
Sweden’s decision to abandon its non-alignment policy in favor of joining the North Atlantic Treaty Organization follows Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022. Remaining procedural steps, including the submission of accession documentation in Washington, are expected to be swiftly completed.
Swedish Defence Minister Pal Jonson expressed optimism regarding the impending membership, emphasizing its significance for both Sweden and NATO. He underscored the potential positive impact on stability across the Euro-Atlantic region.
While most NATO member countries promptly endorsed Sweden’s application following its submission in May 2022, Turkey and Hungary initially delayed the process. Their reservations were reportedly rooted in concerns over Sweden’s perceived support for Kurdish separatists and criticism of the Hungarian government.
The forthcoming inclusion of Finland last year and soon Sweden, a nation that has not engaged in warfare since 1814, represents a notable expansion of NATO. It marks the most substantial enlargement of the alliance since the incorporation of eastern European nations following the dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991.
Sweden’s accession to NATO stands as a setback for President Vladimir Putin and Russia, as it creates a contiguous chain of NATO members extending westward from the Black Sea to the Arctic.
The approval of Sweden’s NATO bid by Hungarian lawmakers on February 26 followed pressure from NATO allies on the government of Prime Minister Viktor Orban. This pressure aimed to ensure Hungary’s alignment with NATO’s collective decision to endorse Sweden’s membership in the alliance.
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