Hungary in NATO

Bilateral relations

Hungary–NATO relations

NATO |
Hungary

Hungary joined North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) on 12 March 1999, following the decision taken at the Madrid Summit, in July 1997.

## History

[edit]

Hungary joined the Partnership for Peace in 1994. Hungary, along with the Czech Republic and Poland, received an invitation to participate in the 1997 Madrid Summit and became a full member on 12 March 1999.[1]

### Finnish and Swedish accession bids

[edit]

See also: Finland–NATO relations, Enlargement of NATO § Finland, Sweden–NATO relations, Enlargement of NATO § Sweden, Enlargement of NATO, and NATO open door policy

In May 2022, Hungary announced that it would support Finland and Sweden's NATO membership process.[2] In November 2022, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán announced that the parliament on the issue of Finland and Sweden's membership in NATO will be held in its first session in 2023.[3] In March 2023, Hungarian Prime Minister Orbán's party, Fidesz, announced that they support Finland and Sweden's applications for NATO membership.[4] In March 2023, Hungary approved Finland's membership process but did not approve Sweden's membership process.[5] In June 2023, Hungary announced that it was postponing Sweden's membership process.[6] On 4 July 2023, Hungary announced that they would act together with Turkey on Sweden's NATO membership.[7] In July 2023, Hungary announced that it would fully support Sweden's membership process after Turkey's objections were removed.[8] In July 2023, Hungary announced that its vote on Sweden's membership application was postponed until the autumn.[9] On 23 January 2024, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán sent a letter to Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson, inviting him to Budapest to negotiate Sweden's accession into NATO.[10] However, Swedish Foreign Minister Tobias Billström rejected Hungary's call to negotiate, stating that, although he was open to a constructive conversation, there was no reason to do so.[11] On 24 January 2024, Viktor Orbán posted on X that, following a phone call with NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg, he reaffirms the Hungarian government's support for Sweden's NATO membership and will urge the Hungarian National Assembly to approve it at the earliest opportunity.[12] Agnes Vadai, of Hungarian opposition Democratic Coalition expressed a desire to force a vote in the parliament prior to the body's scheduled reconvening in late February, in spite of opposition from majority party Fidesz.[13] On 25 January 2024, Swedish Prime Minister Kristersson invited Hungarian Prime Minister Orbán to discuss Sweden's membership application in Brussels.[14]

## See also

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* Foreign relations of Hungary
* Foreign relations of NATO

## References

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1. ^ Perlez, Jane (1999-03-13). "Poland, Hungary and the Czechs Join NATO". The New York Times. Archived from the original on 2 May 2022. Retrieved 2022-08-08.
2. ^ "Hungary backs NATO membership applications by Finland, Sweden". bbj.hu. 2022-05-16.
3. ^ "Hungary set to approve Finland and Sweden NATO membership early next year". lemonde.fr. 2022-11-24.
4. ^ "Hungarian PM's party backs ratification of Finland, Sweden NATO entry". reuters.com. 2023-03-01.
5. ^ "Hungary parliament backs Finland's NATO accession, Swedish bid pending". reuters.com. 2023-03-27.
6. ^ "Hungary postpones vote on Sweden's NATO accession bid ahead of summit". apnews.com. 2023-06-28.
7. ^ "Macaristan, İsveç'in NATO'ya üyelik sürecinde Türkiye ile birlikte hareket edecek" (in Turkish). sabah.com.tr. 2023-07-04.
8. ^ "Sweden's NATO bid: Hungary joins Turkey in lifting veto". euronews.com. 2023-07-11.
9. ^ "Hungary Delays Ratification of Sweden's NATO Accession Bid Again". bloomberg.com. 2023-07-31.
10. ^ "Hungary's Orbán takes step toward breaking deadlock over Sweden's NATO membership". AP News. 23 January 2024. Archived from the original on 23 January 2024. Retrieved 23 January 2024.
11. ^ "Sweden declines Orbán's push for NATO negotiations". POLITICO. 23 January 2024. Archived from the original on 23 January 2024. Retrieved 23 January 2024.
12. ^ @PM_ViktorOrban (24 January 2024). "Just finished a phone call with @NATO Secretary General @jensstoltenberg. I reaffirmed that the Hungarian government supports the NATO-membership of #Sweden. 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" (Tweet). Retrieved 24 January 2024 - via Twitter.
13. ^ Spike, Justin (2024-01-24). "Hungary is the last holdout for Sweden's NATO membership. So when will Orbán follow Turkey's lead?". PBS NewsHour. PBS. Associated Press. Retrieved 2024-01-24.
14. ^ "Swedish PM seeks to meet Hungary's Orban in Brussels for NATO talks". reuters.com. 2024-01-25.

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