Hungary can soon ratify Sweden’s Nato bid: Orban

Hungary is the only NATO country not yet to have ratified Sweden’s application, a process that requires the backing of all NATO members

By Reuters
February 18, 2024
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban can be seen in this image. — AFP/File
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban can be seen in this image. — AFP/File

BUDAPEST: The Hungarian parliament can ratify Sweden’s NATO membership when it convenes for its new spring session later this month, Prime Minister Viktor Orban told his supporters on Saturday.

“It’s good news that our dispute with Sweden will soon be settled,” Orban said in a key speech. “We are going in the direction that at the start of parliament’s spring session we can ratify Sweden’s accession to NATO.”

Parliament reconvenes on Feb. 26. Sweden applied to join NATO nearly two years ago in a historic shift in policy prompted by Russia’s full-scaleinvasion of Ukraine.

Orban said he and Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson had taken steps “to rebuild trust” between their two countries. Orban did not say what those steps were.

Hungary is the only NATO country not yet to have ratified Sweden’s application, a process that requires the backing of all NATO members.