Sweden seems to be edging ever closer to joining NATO, but a war of words could be enough to derail the move. The Nordic country has long had a policy of neutrality when it comes to armed conflicts, but in 2022 it applied to join the North Atlantic Treaty Organization – in which all member states agree to defend each other against attacks from third parties.
Just two countries out of thirty-one have not yet approved Stockholm’s 2022 NATO application done so – Turkey and Hungary. While Erdogan’s Turkey seems set to approve it soon, Victor Orban’s Hungary remains reluctant thanks to an awkward exchange of ideas.
Hungary has repeatedly assured Swedish officials that it will not be the last NATO member to approve Sweden’s bid – but the pressure is now on the Central European nation to deliver that promise after a senior Turkish official confirmed Erdogan’s right-wing party will seek legal approval to ratify Sweden’s application.
In the last few hours, Turkey’s parliament has voted in favour of Sweden joining NATO – a move that would have been unlikely without President Erdogan’s approval, according to the Financial Times. Now, it just needs Erdogan.
Meanwhile, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban has made it clear he wants to talk to Swedish politicians to clear the air before approving their NATO accession. Swedish officials have been vocal about what they believe is an unhealthy state of democracy in Hungary, and Hungarian officials want those supposedly “undue Swedish allegations” taken back.
Ratification of Sweden’s bid in Hungary’s parliament has been suspended for more than a year due to the disagreements, although Orban’s ruling nationalists say Sweden’s security is not threatened. Nevertheless, Hungary has maintained warm relations with Putin, despite his invasion in Ukraine.
Hungarian Prime Minister Orban tweeted yesterday that he has “sent an invitation letter to [Swedish] Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson… for a visit to Hungary to negotiate on Sweden’s NATO accession”, although Sweden’s foreign minister, Tobias Billstrom, told reporters that he sees “no reason to negotiate”.
While Orban may seem to hold the power in a somewhat petty war of words, it is worth remembering that Budapest has relied on Swedish technology in its armed forces, with a fleet of Swedish-made Gripen fighter jets.
The vast majority of experts agree Russia’s invasion of Ukraine triggered Sweden’s 2022 application for NATO membership. The country has long been neutral, including during both World Wars.
