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It’s official: Sweden to join NATO. Hungary finally lets Sweden into the military alliance, dealing a blow to Russia.
Politico Europe ^ | February 26, 2024 | Stuart Lau

Posted on 02/26/2024 8:29:51 AM PST by Miami Rebel

BUDAPEST — At last, Sweden will get to join NATO.

Sweden cleared the final hurdle to become the military alliance's 32nd member after Hungary — the last holdout among the countries — held a parliamentary vote to approve the move.

In recent years, Russia's invasion of Ukraine pushed Sweden away from its decades of military non-alignment and towards the world's biggest military alliance. Sweden’s accession comes amid increasing uncertainty over NATO’s future, as the Republican frontrunner in the U.S. presidential race, Donald Trump, threatens to abandon security guarantees for at least part of Europe.

Advertisement Budapest finally made the move on Monday, with the parliament voting 188 to 6 votes in favor of the resolution.

Hungary’s Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, who has maintained contact with Russia’s Putin in defiance of Western pressure, withheld approval of Sweden's bid for more than 600 days.

Now, all existing NATO allies have now ratified the membership status of Sweden. A flag-raising ceremony is expected at NATO headquarters in Brussels later this week, less than a year after fellow Nordic country Finland joined the alliance.

Orbán gave his final nod just before the weekend, when his Swedish counterpart, Ulf Kristersson, flew to Budapest and signed a defense deal following years of what Orbán called "damned" relations over human rights and the rule of law in his increasingly politically repressive country.

For now, Russia is the biggest loser of Sweden joining NATO.

Moscow has threatened Sweden and Finland since both countries decided to turn toward NATO. Since the two Nordic countries began the process to join the alliance, the West has tightened its grip on the Baltic Sea, complicating a vital transit route for the Russian navy.

The Russian embassy in Stockholm called Sweden "a legitimate target for Russia’s retaliatory measures" last year, while Finland closed the border with Russia after finding "systematic" and "organized" efforts by the Russian authorities to send African migrants into Finnish territories.


TOPICS: Breaking News; Foreign Affairs; Russia
KEYWORDS: hungary; nato; sweden; swedenorban; theukraine; vatnikbutthurt
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To: Angelino97
demographics is destiny

Another bogus pop-culture notion, with no proof to back it up

*Why aren't China, India, Indonesia and Pakistan running the World??


41 posted on 02/26/2024 9:32:02 AM PST by canuck_conservative (NATO - now celebrating 75 successful years of keeping the Russian monsters out!!)
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To: wildcard_redneck

Bump.

Tired of signing my kids’ lives and prosperity for financing defense contractors and (now) 20+ overseas shitholes.

NATO = another worldwide American cash laundermat run by corrupted pigs.


42 posted on 02/26/2024 9:32:11 AM PST by AAABEST (That time Washington DC became a corrupted, existential threat to us all...)
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To: Miami Rebel

Sweden just joined the suicide club.


43 posted on 02/26/2024 9:33:50 AM PST by Salman (It's not a slippery slope if it was part of the program all along. )
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To: USA-FRANCE

Oh good, another moronic, poorly written wall of words nobody reads.

Do everyone a favor: get a life and GTFO Free Republic - EuroTurd.


44 posted on 02/26/2024 9:35:26 AM PST by AAABEST (That time Washington DC became a corrupted, existential threat to us all...)
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To: AAABEST

Completely disagree, NATO is keeping Europe safe from Russian monsters

That’s why it’s not going anywhere, it’s still needed!


45 posted on 02/26/2024 9:36:07 AM PST by canuck_conservative (NATO - now celebrating 75 successful years of keeping the Russian monsters out!!)
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To: AAABEST

Maybe YOU should take your own advice, and get a life and GTFO Free Republic?


46 posted on 02/26/2024 9:38:36 AM PST by canuck_conservative (NATO - now celebrating 75 successful years of keeping the Russian monsters out!!)
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To: canuck_conservative
*Why aren't China, India, Indonesia and Pakistan running the World??

Let's see - because you're a blatherimg Canadian lump-o-trash who has no interest whatsoever in America and does nothing but bring this forum down every single time you post?

How'd I do?

47 posted on 02/26/2024 9:39:48 AM PST by AAABEST (That time Washington DC became a corrupted, existential threat to us all...)
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To: Miami Rebel

How is a paper transaction a “blow to Russia”?


48 posted on 02/26/2024 9:41:03 AM PST by Jim Noble (Assez de mensonges et de phrases)
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To: AAABEST

As usual, you failed to answer the question

and, more personal insults = Russia must still be losing


49 posted on 02/26/2024 9:42:05 AM PST by canuck_conservative (NATO - now celebrating 75 successful years of keeping the Russian monsters out!!)
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To: canuck_conservative

Oh look, yet another Ukraine thread full of foreign, punch-worthy harpies... I’m so surprised.


50 posted on 02/26/2024 9:43:39 AM PST by AAABEST (That time Washington DC became a corrupted, existential threat to us all...)
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To: AAABEST

I love the sound of an illegal Russian invasion continuing to fail


51 posted on 02/26/2024 9:47:12 AM PST by canuck_conservative (NATO - now celebrating 75 successful years of keeping the Russian monsters out!!)
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To: ducttape45

Bad move. The Swedes are giving up neutrality and accepting occupation by US (nato) bases. Now the US will dictate their foreign policy.

Sad


52 posted on 02/26/2024 9:50:33 AM PST by CapandBall
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To: canuck_conservative
As usual, you failed to answer the question..

lol - you say that like I want a conversation... shitholian dolt.

You need injuries, not indulgence.

53 posted on 02/26/2024 9:53:24 AM PST by AAABEST (That time Washington DC became a corrupted, existential threat to us all...)
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To: Jim Noble

For what you deem a “paper transaction,” Russia throwing a spectacular conniption for months.

According to the Swedish government, “Since February 2022, Sweden contributed approximately SEK 37 billion (approx. EUR 3,2 billion) to various initiatives that support Ukraine (20 February 2024). Together with the EU, Sweden has also adopted macroeconomic support and several sanctions packages against Russia.”

And that’s BEFORE admission to NATO.

From a year ago: “The Russian Embassy in Stockholm has threatened Sweden and Finland with military retaliation if the two countries join the NATO alliance, pointing to the increasing number of Swedes expressing solidarity with Russia and shunning Stockholm’s ‘transatlantic ambitions’.”

Russia sures seems worried about what to you is a non-event.


54 posted on 02/26/2024 9:55:18 AM PST by Miami Rebel
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To: Miami Rebel

I guess Putin’s wish to have NATO on his border has been granted.

From the fjords to Moldova….


55 posted on 02/26/2024 9:55:58 AM PST by Vermont Lt (Don’t vote for anyone over 70 years old. Get rid of the geriatric politicians.)
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To: odawg

Well, they got a taste of Finland before. They didn’t like it. I am sure Swedes taste just as good.


56 posted on 02/26/2024 9:57:29 AM PST by Vermont Lt (Don’t vote for anyone over 70 years old. Get rid of the geriatric politicians.)
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To: ducttape45

Bad. Once NATO gets into a country it dictates it economics as well.


57 posted on 02/26/2024 9:58:14 AM PST by CodeToad (Rule #1: The elites want you dead.)
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To: canuck_conservative; Mmogamer; jacknhoo; wildcard_redneck
"Always fun to see Russia get its ass kicked by a country 1/20th its size"

The Ukraine is now 1/20th the size of Russia? Well I am man enough to admit that the Ukraine is shrinking due to Ukrainians voting with their feet. I guess that the 40% Ukrainians are the fled. The country just didn't like working and dying for the CIA. How many NATO "volunteers" work in the 12 secret CIA bases in the Ukraine?

58 posted on 02/26/2024 10:01:03 AM PST by wildcard_redneck (He who sacrifices freedom for security deserves neither.)
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To: AAABEST

I like it when you Ukraine-haters are angry and frustrated

And since Russia keeps losing, I guess we can expect more of that from you


59 posted on 02/26/2024 10:01:32 AM PST by canuck_conservative (NATO - now celebrating 75 successful years of keeping the Russian monsters out!!)
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To: Miami Rebel
"Weird how two countries with histories of scores of years of neutrality aren’t as clearsighted as an internet typist."

Right? It's pretty damn sad.

60 posted on 02/26/2024 10:01:48 AM PST by wildcard_redneck (He who sacrifices freedom for security deserves neither.)
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