Today, Hungarian lawmakers are set to ratify Sweden's bid to join NATO, marking a significant step towards the Nordic nation's entry into the military alliance. The final hurdle for Sweden's NATO membership is expected to be cleared later on Monday.
Prime Minister Viktor Orbán of Hungary, a Nationalist leader, expressed his backing for Sweden's NATO accession following the recent signing of an arms deal between the two countries. Orbán emphasized that Hungary and Sweden have embarked on a 'new phase of cooperation' with this agreement.
Sweden, along with Finland, submitted its application for NATO membership in May 2022 in response to Russia's large-scale invasion of Ukraine. The move was aimed at enhancing security and stability in the region.
Although Hungary had delayed the ratification vote for over a year, the approval is now anticipated to go through smoothly. The upcoming endorsement by Hungarian lawmakers is seen as a positive development in the process of Sweden's integration into NATO.