End of blocking.

The Hungarian Parliament approved Sweden's accession to NATO on Monday February 26, the final step for the Nordic country wishing to join the Atlantic Alliance since the Russian invasion of Ukraine. 

Stockholm's candidacy was approved by an overwhelming majority of deputies (188 votes out of 199 seats), after almost two years of waiting and a chaotic road: to the negotiations with Turkey, concluded by a positive vote in January, were added the procrastination of Hungarian nationalist leader Viktor Orban, the last holdout. 

“Today is a historic day,” Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson wrote on X.

“Sweden is ready to assume its responsibilities in terms of Euro-Atlantic security”, almost two years after starting the accession process, he added.

Today is a historic day.

The parliaments of all NATO member states have now voted in favor of Swedish accession to NATO.

Sweden stands ready to shoulder its responsibility for Euro-Atlantic security.

— SwedishPM (@SwedishPM) February 26, 2024

At the opening of the parliamentary session, Viktor Orban welcomed the recent visit of his Swedish counterpart Ulf Kristersson, an essential step in building “a fair and respectful relationship between the two countries”, beyond “differences of opinion”. 

“Sweden's entry into NATO will strengthen Hungary's security,” he added, calling on MPs to proceed with ratification. 

Viktor Orban had certainly given his agreement in principle a long time ago, but before completing the process, he demanded "respect" from Stockholm, after years of "denigration" of his policies. 

To seal this new cooperation, Hungary announced on Friday the purchase of four combat aircraft from Sweden to strengthen its current fleet of 14 Gripen aircraft. 

Also readSweden's membership of NATO: why is Hungary procrastinating?

On hold since May 2022

Parliament's vote was announced without surprise given the two-thirds majority held by the ruling coalition. 

Sweden's NATO accession protocol, which requires unanimity of the members of the Atlantic Alliance, has been on hold since May 2022. 

Once approved by the Hungarian Parliament, the law is expected to be promulgated by the president in the coming days. 

Sweden will then be able to deposit its “instrument of accession” in Washington, in accordance with the NATO treaty, to become the 32nd member.  

In the case of Finland, for example, Ankara gave the green light on March 30, 2023 and Finland submitted the document on April 4, therefore joining the Alliance five days after the Turkish vote. 

Stockholm announced its candidacy in the wake of the Kremlin offensive in Ukraine, at the same time as Helsinki.  

The country thus broke with its policy of neutrality adopted after the end of the Napoleonic wars in the 19th century, then of military non-alignment since the end of the Cold War. 

Blackmail strategy

Over the months, Hungary has continued to delay the deadline, each time invoking different pretexts. 

Some experts saw it as a blackmail strategy to obtain concessions from the EU and the release of billions of euros of currently frozen funds, others a sign of Viktor Orban's closeness to Russian President Vladimir Putin and the leader of Turkish State Recep Tayyip Erdogan. 

Also read: Why is Turkey considered the troublemaker of NATO?

But for analyst Mate Szalai, the Hungarian Prime Minister prioritizes national interests above all. 

“He went as far as possible,” stopping just in time “so as not to cause serious problems for the transatlantic community,” he told AFP.

Just as he blocked crucial aid to Ukraine for months before giving in in early February under pressure from his EU partners. 

By adopting such a posture, he wants to prove that his small country of less than 10 million inhabitants counts and "should not be underestimated", believes the researcher from Ca' Foscari University in Venice. 

He does not reap "any tangible results in terms of foreign policy", but this attitude of "confrontation" on the international scene serves him to "maintain his popularity at home". 

At the risk of being caught at its own game: if Hungary had ratified Finnish accession three days before Turkey, this time it is the last, despite its promises. 

With AFP 

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