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Despite new twists on the NATO issue from the Hungarian side, the Swedish government is convinced that the promise from the country to “not be last” stands firm.
– We are very sure that the messages that were given earlier apply, says Foreign Minister Tobias Billström (M).
Hungary and Turkey are still the only countries that have not approved Sweden’s NATO application.
But while the first step in the ratification process has now begun in the Turkish parliament, criticism from the Hungarian side has intensified.
In September, in a letter to Sweden, the Hungarian government linked an old UR clip – where democracy is described as being on the decline in Hungary – to Sweden’s entry into NATO.
And last week, a Hungarian minister demanded an explanation of the criticism that Swedish politicians have directed at the country’s democratic development.
“Does not reflect”
Despite the high tone, Tobias Billström assumes that previous promises apply.
– The statements made publicly by Prime Minister Viktor Orbán apply, that is, Hungary will not be the last to approve Sweden’s NATO application, he says at a meeting with Riksdag journalists.
The last time he himself received the news was in connection with the UN week in New York at the end of September, when he met his Hungarian ministerial colleague.
– We have many contacts with Hungary and the message is the same. What was said at the press conference (last week, editor’s note) does not reflect what my foreign minister colleague told me, says Billström.
TT: But have you received any new promises since September?
– I have not received any new comments, but we assume that what is said is what applies.
No answer
According to Billström, the government sees no need to respond to the Hungarian letter.
– We have other channels to express our views, he says.
Nor will Hungary receive an explanation as demanded last week.
Billström points out that Hungary, unlike Turkey, did not set any special conditions for letting Sweden in.
– We see no reason, since no special agreements were made with Hungary during the NATO summit in Madrid, to do anything else. Hungary has given Sweden the status of “invitee” without any reservations.
The F-16 deal
What remains in the Hungarian parliament is the final vote, according to Billström.
– Sweden has already been processed and is up for the final vote. This means that you can drive us through the chamber whenever you want.
As for Turkey, the parliament must vote on the Swedish NATO application by December 10 at the latest, according to documents on the Turkish parliament’s website.
At the same time, the process is closely related to the F-16 deal between the US and Turkey. The package also includes the F-35 for Greece.
– We have no insight into how the business is going and do not consider ourselves to have any need for it either, says Billström.
FACT Sweden’s path towards NATO
Sweden applied for membership in NATO, in parallel with Finland, on 18 May 2022.
On July 5 of the same year, Sweden and Finland were formally given the status of prospective members, “invitees” in English.
For Finland, the process ended in April this year when membership became completely clear after Hungary and Turkey became the last NATO countries to ratify the country’s application.
In connection with the NATO summit in Vilnius at the beginning of July, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan promised to “as soon as possible” send the Swedish application to the parliament for ratification.
On October 23, the Turkish presidential office announced that Erdogan had signed and forwarded Sweden’s NATO application to the parliament.
Hungary has said that an approval is only about “technicalities” and that the country should not be last to ratify. But the decision has been postponed several times.
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