Hungary Faces Pressure to Ratify Sweden’s NATO Bid Following EU Deal, Says Reuters

By Krisztina Than

BUDAPEST (Reuters) – Hungary is under increasing pressure to ratify Sweden’s application to join NATO following its recent agreement with other European Union nations on a substantial aid package for Ukraine.

Prime Minister Viktor Orban stated on Friday that he made significant concessions before endorsing the EU’s 50 billion euro ($54 billion) aid deal during a summit in Brussels, ending weeks of resistance. Hungary had previously been the only EU member state not to support the agreement at a December summit.

As the sole NATO member that has not yet ratified Sweden’s membership application— a necessary step requiring approval from all member countries— Hungary’s position is becoming more scrutinized. Orban, who has maintained closer ties with Russia compared to other EU and NATO countries, claims that his administration supports Sweden’s accession to the alliance, but external pressures are mounting to expedite this process.

Opposition lawmakers have scheduled an extraordinary parliamentary session for Monday to discuss Sweden’s NATO membership, but members of Orban’s ruling Fidesz party indicated on Thursday that they would postpone a final decision until Orban meets with Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson.

Orban’s spokesperson did not respond to inquiries about when such a meeting might occur.

Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto expressed through a government spokesperson that Kristersson’s visit to Budapest before Sweden’s NATO bid is ratified would be "fair," similar to the Swedish Prime Minister’s previous trip to Turkey prior to that country’s ratification.

"The ball is in your court, Swedish PM," spokesperson Zoltan Kovacs remarked.

Orban’s parliamentary majority has allowed him to push legislation through quickly, often with little opposition. Increasing pressure from U.S. lawmakers for Hungary to hasten the ratification process has raised concerns that failing to act could harm Hungary’s relationship with Washington.

While Hungary has not explicitly set forth demands in relation to NATO, it has delayed the approval of Sweden’s membership. The EU aid agreement for Ukraine, however, was approved swiftly after Hungary’s previous opposition. Since Russia’s invasion, Hungary has refrained from supplying arms to Ukraine and has experienced strained relations with Kyiv, partly due to concerns over the treatment of the 150,000 ethnic Hungarians living in western Ukraine.

Orban has frequently criticized the EU’s financial and military support for Ukraine while maintaining a relationship with the Kremlin throughout the conflict. In a recent radio broadcast, he emphasized the necessity of the deal: "If this deal had not been reached, and Hungary had continued to use its right of veto, then 26 member states would have agreed to send the money to Ukraine… and would have redirected the funds earmarked for Hungary to Ukraine as well."

Under EU regulations, funds allocated to member states cannot be transferred to countries outside the EU. Although Hungary gained access to some EU funds in December, the European Commission is still withholding about 20 billion euros over allegations that Orban has undermined democracy during his 13 years in power—accusations his government firmly disputes.