{"id":340032,"date":"2024-02-26T18:47:08","date_gmt":"2024-02-26T17:47:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.eunews.it\/2024\/02\/26\/svezia-nuovo-membro-nato-ok-ungheria\/"},"modified":"2024-07-11T19:13:07","modified_gmt":"2024-07-11T17:13:07","slug":"hungary-approves-swedens-nato-membership-alliance-reaches-32-members","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.eunews.it\/en\/2024\/02\/26\/hungary-approves-swedens-nato-membership-alliance-reaches-32-members\/","title":{"rendered":"Hungary approves Sweden\u2019s NATO membership. The Alliance reaches 32 members"},"content":{"rendered":"

Brussels \u2013 The last hurdle in front of Sweden\u2019s path into NATO has also fallen. Hungary\u2019s National Assembly has voted today (Feb. 26) in favour of ratifying Stockholm\u2019s accession protocol to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization<\/strong>, and, in a few days, the Scandinavian country will be able to officially become the 32nd member country of the Atlantic Alliance. \u201cToday is a historic day,\u201d rejoiced<\/a> Swedish Prime Minister, Ulf Kristersson<\/strong>: \u201cWe are ready to assume our responsibilities for Euro-Atlantic security.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"Viktor<\/a>
The Prime Minister of Hungary, Viktor Orb\u00e1n (credits: Javier Soriano\/Afp)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The go-ahead came with 188 votes in favour and six against after it had been clear from the words of the prime minister, Viktor Orb\u00e1n, at the opening of the parliamentary session, that deputies from the ruling Fidesz party would no longer create problems for ratification. The two premiers had met last Friday (Feb. 23) in Budapest to discuss defence and security cooperation<\/strong>, and it emerged from the negotiations that Hungary will be able to purchase four new Swedish-made Gripen fighter jets while Stockholm would no longer see obstructionism from Budapest on its path to Atlantic Alliance membership. \u201cSweden\u2019s entry into NATO will strengthen Hungary\u2019s security<\/strong>,\u201d Orb\u00e1n commented today, calling Kristersson\u2019s visit to the Hungarian capital an essential step toward building \u201ca fair and respectful relationship between the two countries.\u201d Sweden\u2019s (and Finland\u2019s 31st member country as of Apr. 4, 2023) accession protocol was signed on Jul. 5, 2022, after a strategic historical turn on national security policy traditionally linked to non-alignment, and it has been an uphill road for Stockholm ever since. More than 19 months after the Madrid Summit, Hungary had remained the only member country not to formally approve<\/strong> Stockholm\u2019s entry into the Atlantic Alliance<\/strong>, when also Turkey <\/a>ended its tough blockade. A month ago, Orb\u00e1n had formally dropped his short obstructionism, but so did not his Fidesz party, boycotting the extraordinary session earlier this month. Finding himself under pressure<\/a> from the other members and cornered by Kristersson\u2019s visit, the Hungarian premier finally pushed his party members to drop the resistance.\u00a0Secretary General of the Alliance Jens Stoltenberg welcomed<\/a>\u00a0 \u201cthe Hungarian parliament\u2019s vote to ratify Sweden\u2019s membership in NATO. Now that all Allies have approved, Sweden will become the 32nd NATO Ally<\/strong>. Sweden\u2019s membership will make us all stronger and safer.\u201d<\/p>\n

The entrance ceremony for the new Alliance member could be held at NATO headquarters as early as Friday <\/strong>(Mar. 1).<\/p>\n