On Monday, the Hungarian Parliament granted approval to Sweden’s membership bid to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), finalizing the unanimous consent required by the NATO member states for an accession. This pivotal development makes Sweden poised to become the thirty-second member state of NATO, anticipating an official invitation by Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg. The news was first reported by Jurist. Full Coverage Here
Article 10 of the NATO Treaty stipulates a unanimous agreement of all member states to invite any other European State able to further the principles of NATO and contribute to the security of the North Atlantic area to join. The Hungarian Parliament showed overwhelming support for Sweden’s bid with a vote of 188-6. Expressions of optimism regarding Hungary’s ratification had been shared in a press conference earlier this month by both Secretary-General Stoltenberg and US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan. More On This
Sweden’s application for accession to NATO transpired in May 2022, paralleling Finland’s application, in response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Even though Sweden does not border Russia, it lies in close proximity. While most of the member states ratified Sweden’s bid promptly, initial resistance was encountered from Hungary and Turkey. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan considerably voiced his dissent to Sweden’s membership bid due to public burnings of the Quran. However, the Turkish National Assembly eventually green-lighted Sweden’s accession in January 2024. Details Here
The approval from the Hungarian Parliament was met with welcoming remarks by Secretary-General Stoltenberg, who posted on X (formerly known as Twitter) to applaud the decision, stating that Sweden’s membership will enhance the strength and safety of all members. Likewise, Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson celebrated the decision, saying, “Today is a historic day. The parliaments of all NATO member states have now voted in favour of Swedish accession to NATO. Sweden stands ready to shoulder its responsibility for Euro-Atlantic security.” Stoltenberg’s Post, Kristersson’s Post
It is significant to note that similar to Sweden’s case, Hungary and Turkey were the last member states to ratify Finland’s accession to NATO in April 2023. Look Back At This