Orbán backs Sweden’s NATO bid in sudden U-turn

Politico ^ | January 24, 2024 | Stuart Lau

[Timber Rattler]

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, the last remaining holdout in Sweden's bid to join NATO, now says he supports its application and vows that Hungary's parliament will say yes "at the first possible opportunity."

Orbán's remark, made during a call today with NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg, comes a day after he asked his Swedish counterpart to first fly to Hungary for negotiations on NATO membership, only to be snubbed by the Swedish government.

Hungary also broke a promise not to become the last to ratify Sweden's bid, when the Turkish parliament approved Stockholm's membership status late Tuesday, some 20 months after Stockholm submitted the application when Russia's war against Ukraine upended the Scandinavian country's centuries-old stance of neutrality.

"I reaffirmed that the Hungarian government supports the NATO-membership of Sweden," Orbán tweeted. "I also stressed that we will continue to urge the Hungarian National Assembly to vote in favor of Sweden’s accession and conclude the ratification at the first possible opportunity."

Referring to the "good call" with Orbán, Stoltenberg said: "I welcome the clear support of the Prime Minister and his government for Sweden's NATO membership. I look forward to the ratification as soon as parliament reconvenes."

[Timber Rattler]

And that's that. I guess Orbán was not as good of a friend to Putin as many thought.

[Nextrush]

Orban is surprising close to President Erdogan diplomatically and I see Orban following the lead of Turkey taking advantage of the Turkish stalling to do his own stalling.

Now that Erdogan gives the green light Orban will follow.

[canuck_conservative]

After 200 years of neutrality, Sweden now joins NATO

What could possibly has prompted such a change of heart?

/sarc

[Saintgermain]

What could possibly has prompted such a change of heart?

Probably some form of financial bribe, curtesy of US; not surprising.

[Salman]

Hungary historically has reason to fear Russia, but Orban is walking a fine line.

[CapandBall]

Oh boy, more toy soldiers!!!

[conejo99]

I wonder how much of this is fall out from Trump’s current political strength.
I think Europe is worried that Trump might back out of NATO or try to force Ukraine to sign a ceasefire and is preparing itself to go alone.
Orban accepting favors from Moscow is a lot more pleasant so long as he can count on the US to hold the Russians at bay.
There is a temptation to see this a completely positive for the US, but it has some large risks and foreseeable downsides.
Even a rearming Europe might be too weak or start too late to deter Putin. Also, the US is used to Europe accepting its direction. That will stop as soon as the US stops being their security guarantor.

[Brian Griffin]

Orban didn’t like that Sweden said Hungary wasn’t drinking leftist swill fast enough:

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2024/jan/24/why-is-orban-blocking-swedens-entry-to-nato-and-what-happens-next

[forYourChildrenVote4Bush]

It’s very easy

Either Hungary is out or in nato. That’s the message that was probably conveyed

Sweden wanted in and they got in. It wasn’t financial it was survival.

Russia did what nato couldn’t do , that is put Finland and Sweden in nato

[rellic]

Russia may very much want to change it’s tune.
Western Russians have much more in common with the west than the east.
China still thinks they owned much of Eastern Russia,
and were cheated out of it.
Chinese think everyone not Han people are barbarians.
Y’all think on that a bit.

[linMcHlp]

bkmk

[mac_truck]

Sweden wanted in and they got in.

Sweden isn't in until Hungary votes them in, which hasn't happened yet.

It wasn’t financial it was survival.

Absolute nonsense...stop drinking the neo-liberal koolaid.