Hungary is expected today to ratify Sweden's accession to NATO, clearing the final hurdle to the historic step by the Scandinavian country whose neutrality lasted through two world wars and the simmering conflict of the Cold War.
The vote in Hungary's parliament, which is expected to go smoothly following a visit by Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristerson last Friday, during which the two countries signed an arms deal, will end months of delays to complete the policy shift of Swedish security.
Stockholm abandoned its non-aligned policy in favor of greater security within the North Atlantic Treaty Organization following Russia's 2022 invasion of Ukraine.
After Sweden followed Finland into NATO to become its 32nd member, President Vladimir Putin effectively achieved exactly what he tried to prevent when he launched his war in Ukraine - an expansion of the alliance - Western leaders said.
While Finland became a NATO member last year, Sweden has been left waiting as Turkey and Hungary, which have better relations with Russia than other members of the US-led alliance, raised objections.
Turkey is holding up ratification of Sweden's membership, demanding tougher action against Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) militants it says are based in Sweden.
Sweden changed its laws and eased rules on arms sales to appease Turkey. President Tayyip Erdogan also tied ratification to US approval of the sale of F-16 fighter jets to Turkey, with Ankara now expecting the United States to work to secure approval from the US Congress.
Hungary's pushback was less clear-cut in nature, with Budapest expressing its anger mostly over Swedish criticism of the direction of democratic development under nationalist Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, rather than any specific demands./BGNES
