Hungary Backs Sweden’s NATO Membership
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban Pushes for Sweden’s NATO Membership
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban recently expressed his support for Sweden’s membership in NATO during a phone call with NATO Secretary General Stoltenberg. Orban took to his social media account to make the announcement, stating, “I reaffirmed (to Stoltenberg in the telephone conversation) that the Hungarian government supports Sweden’s membership in NATO.”
In addition to voicing his support for Sweden’s NATO membership, Orban also emphasized that he will continue to urge the Hungarian National Assembly to vote in favor of Sweden’s accession and finalize the ratification as soon as possible. The Hungarian leader further announced that he had sent an invitation letter to his Swedish counterpart, Ulf Kristersson, to initiate negotiations on the matter.
However, Swedish Foreign Minister Tobias Billström responded to Orban’s offer, stating, “I do not see any reason to negotiate at this point. Of course, what we hope for is that Hungary approves the membership as soon as possible.”
It is evident that there are differing opinions on the issue, with Hungary actively advocating for Sweden’s NATO membership while Sweden is eager for Hungary to approve the membership without further negotiations. The potential addition of Sweden to NATO would undoubtedly have significant implications for the alliance and could potentially shift the balance of power in the region. As the situation continues to develop, it is crucial to monitor the ongoing discussions and decisions regarding Sweden’s potential NATO membership.
