(CN) — Hungary’s Parliament voted to ratify Sweden as NATO’s 32nd member on Monday, clearing the way for the Scandinavian country's historic move to abandon its legacy of neutrality in international military conflicts. The vote was 188 in favor to six against.
“Today is a historic day. The parliaments of all NATO member states have now voted in favor of Swedish accession to NATO. Sweden stands ready to shoulder its responsibility for Euro-Atlantic security,” said Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson on X, previously Twitter, shortly after the vote.
NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg also cheered the prospect of a new ally in the organization.
“I welcome the Hungarian Parliament’s vote to ratify Sweden’s membership in NATO. Now that all allies have approved, Sweden will become the 32nd NATO ally. Sweden’s membership will make us all stronger and safer,” he wrote on X.
The approval had been expected since last week when the vote was first announced. Prime Minister Viktor Orban's government began the process of ratification in July 2022, but the matter stalled over opposition by governing party lawmakers.
Despite lamenting Swedish politicians' criticism of Hungary, Orban sounded a positive note as he addressed lawmakers before the vote.
“Sweden and Hungary’s military cooperation and Sweden’s NATO accession strengthen Hungary’s security,” Orban said.
With Sweden joining the alliance, a significant geographical gap in Northern Europe will close between NATO members and neighbors Finland, Norway and Denmark.
A large chunk of the Baltic Sea, shared with Russia, will also fall in favor of NATO, especially with the Swedish island of Gotland serving as a military bastion in the region. With the Scandinavian country comes valuable naval experience and material that are crucial for the alliance to hold Russia at bay, if necessary.
Sweden’s NATO bid came along with that of neighboring Finland, which became a full-fledged member in April 2023, expanding the allies’ border with Russia by 1,340 km (830 miles). Finland moved ahead of its neighbor when it became clear that NATO allies Turkey, and later Hungary, were seeking guarantees from Sweden.
Since the start of Sweden’s NATO application, Ankara insisted that the Nordic country should take action against harboring groups and people it claimed were associated with terrorism. The Scandinavian country met this worry with a constitutional amendment introducing “limitations on freedom of association for groups engaged in terrorism.”
After the Turkish ratification of Sweden’s NATO membership last month, Hungary stood as the last remaining obstacle. All members of the military alliance must vote in favor of a new country's entrance.
The Hungarian green light comes just days after a bilateral agreement with Sweden that will sell Hungary four Swedish-made JAS 39 Gripen jets. The agreement has most likely paved the way for Hungary to ratify Sweden’s NATO bid, according to the AP.
NATO urges all its members to spend at least 2% of GDP on defense — an amount many European countries neglected prior to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. According to Swedish broadcaster SVT, the Scandinavian country will meet the requirement later this year.
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