BUDAPEST: Hungary鈥檚 parliament voted Monday to ratify Sweden鈥檚 bid to join NATO, bringing an end to more than 18 months of delays that have frustrated the alliance as it seeks to expand in response to Russia鈥檚 war in Ukraine.
The vote, which passed with 188 votes for and six against, came as a culmination of months of wrangling by Hungary鈥檚 allies to convince its nationalist government to lift its block on Sweden鈥檚 membership. The government of Prime Minister Viktor Orb谩n submitted the protocols for approving Sweden鈥檚 entry into NATO in July 2022, but the matter had stalled in parliament over opposition by governing party lawmakers.
Unanimous support among all NATO members is required to admit new countries, and Hungary is the last of the alliance鈥檚 31 members to give its backing since Turkiye ratified the request last month.
Orb谩n, a right-wing populist who has forged close ties with Russia, has said that criticism of Hungary鈥檚 democracy by Swedish politicians had soured relations between the two countries and led to reluctance among lawmakers in his Fidesz party.
But the vote on Monday removed the final membership hurdle for Sweden which, along with neighboring Finland, first applied to join the alliance in May 2022.
Addressing lawmakers before the vote, Orb谩n said: 鈥淪weden and Hungary鈥檚 military cooperation and Sweden鈥檚 NATO accession strengthen Hungary鈥檚 security.鈥�
Orb谩n criticized Hungary鈥檚 European Union and NATO allies for placing increased pressure on his government in recent months to move forward on bringing Sweden into the alliance.
鈥淪everal people tried to intervene from the outside in the settling of our disputes (with Sweden), but this did not help but rather hampered the issue,鈥� Orb谩n said. 鈥淗ungary is a sovereign country, it does not tolerate being dictated by others, whether it be the content of its decisions or their timing.鈥�
Last weekend, a bipartisan group of US senators visited Hungary and announced it would submit a joint resolution to Congress condemning Hungary鈥檚 alleged democratic backsliding and urging Orb谩n鈥檚 government to immediately lift its block on Sweden鈥檚 trans-Atlantic integration.
But on Friday, Ulf Kristersson, Sweden鈥檚 prime minister, met with Orb谩n in Hungary鈥檚 capital where they appeared to reach a decisive reconciliation after months of diplomatic tensions.
Following their meeting, the leaders announced the conclusion of a defense industry agreement that will include Hungary鈥檚 purchase of four Swedish-made JAS 39 Gripen jets and the extension of a service contract for its existing Gripen fleet.
Orb谩n said the additional fighter jets 鈥渨ill significantly increase our military capabilities and further strengthen our role abroad鈥� and will improve Hungary鈥檚 ability to participate in joint NATO operations.
鈥淭o be a member of NATO together with another country means we are ready to die for each other,鈥� Orb谩n said. 鈥淎 deal on defense and military capacities helps to reconstruct the trust between the two countries.鈥�
Monday鈥檚 vote on Sweden鈥檚 NATO accession was just one matter on a busy agenda for lawmakers in the Hungarian parliament. A vote was also held on accepting the resignation of President Katalin Nov谩k, who stepped down earlier this month in a scandal over her decision to pardon to a man convicted of covering up a string of child sexual abuses.
After accepting Nov谩k鈥檚 resignation, lawmakers are expected to confirm Tam谩s Sulyok, the president of Hungary鈥檚 Constitutional Court, as the country鈥檚 new president. He is set to formally take office on March 5.
Some opposition parties have said they will not participate in a vote to confirm a new president and have called for direct presidential elections. But Sulyok was nominated by Orb谩n鈥檚 Fidesz party, which has a two-thirds majority in parliament and is expected to easily approve his presidency.
A presidential signature is needed to formally endorse the approval of Sweden鈥檚 NATO bid, which is expected within the next few days.