Sweden has overcome the final hurdle to joining NATO after Hungary’s parliament approved the bid. Sweden’s prime minister called it a “historic day,” with other alliance members expressing relief due to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg stated that Sweden’s membership will make the alliance “stronger and safer.”
The United States, Britain, and Germany also welcomed Sweden’s imminent accession.
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz mentioned that Sweden joining NATO will enhance the defense alliance and improve security in Europe and globally.
Russia’s invasion of Ukraine two years ago led Sweden and Finland to apply for NATO membership, ending their previous policy of non-alignment.
Approval from every NATO member was required for Sweden to join, and Hungary’s vote ended over a year of delays that had frustrated the other 31 nations during Ukraine’s conflict with Russian forces.
Finland became a member in April of last year. However, Sweden’s application was delayed by Hungary and Turkey. Ankara only approved Stockholm’s candidacy last month.
Hungary then approved Sweden’s bid, with 188 parliament members voting in favor and six far-right deputies voting against.
“Today is a historic day… Sweden stands ready to shoulder its responsibility for Euro-Atlantic security,” Sweden’s Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson said on X.
Speaking about Russia’s potential reaction, Kristersson told a press conference: “The only thing we can expect with any certainty is that they don’t like Sweden becoming a member of NATO, nor Finland.”
Going forward, “Nordic countries will have a common defence for the first time in 500 years… we remain friends, and we become allies,” he added.
Stoltenberg stated that Sweden joining NATO as the 32nd ally will enhance the strength and safety of all members.
Hungary’s Prime Minister Viktor Orban, who had previously delayed Sweden’s membership, now believes it will improve Hungary’s security.
Despite Hungary’s support for Swedish membership in theory, the process was delayed due to concerns about how the Hungarian government was being portrayed.
After a meeting between Orban and Kristersson in Budapest, they clarified their intentions, and Hungary agreed to purchase four Swedish fighter jets to add to their fleet.
Hungary’s president is expected to sign the law soon, allowing Sweden to officially become NATO’s 32nd member after being neutral militarily for two centuries.
All Baltic nations, except Russia, have joined the alliance. In addition to joining NATO, Sweden also signed an agreement in December allowing the United States to use 17 Swedish military bases.
As they prepare to join the alliance, leaders have been making stronger statements. General Per Micael Buden, the commander-in-chief of the Swedish military, stated in January that the Swedish people need to be ready for the possibility of war.
“It is the last piece of the puzzle in the NATO map for northern Europe,” said Robert Dalsjo, an analyst for the Swedish Defence Research Agency (FOI).
People in Sweden mostly hailed the approval.
Jimmy Dahllof, 35, said Sweden would be “safer… bringing us closer to our European neighbours”.
“I am very relieved because we have been waiting so long,” said Ingrid Lindskrog, a 73-year-old pensioner.
Some experts viewed Hungary’s delay as a tactic to pressure the European Union into making concessions, as the EU has halted funding due to the nationalist government’s policies.
Others believed it highlighted Orban’s strong relationships with the leaders of Russia and Turkey.
According to Mate Szalai, an analyst at Ca’ Foscari University in Venice, Orban was mainly appealing to his domestic supporters.
“Orban wanted to go as far as he could without causing serious problems to the trans-Atlantic community while proving that Hungary is a power to be reckoned with,” he told AFP.
Szalai also noted that many of Orban’s actions are meant to provoke Europe.
