Prime Minister Kristersson and Prime Minister Orbán met in Budapest. Hungary is the last NATO country that has not ratified Sweden’s membership application.
Prime Minister of Sweden by Ulf Kristersson The focus of today’s visit to Hungary was an agreement on arms sales and defense industry cooperation.
Hungary buys four Jas Gripen fighters from Sweden.
In addition, the maintenance contract for Hungary’s current fleet of 14 aircraft will be extended. The destroyers leased by Hungary will become Hungary’s ownership in 2026. As part of the lease agreement, Hungary has paid for the machines in installments.
Hungary is the last NATO country that has not ratified Sweden’s membership application.
Prime Minister of Hungary Viktor Orban denied at a joint press conference that the arms sales were directly connected to the approval of Sweden’s NATO membership in the Hungarian parliament. However, the agreement helped.
According to Orbán, the trust between Sweden and Hungary has been rebuilt, even though the countries do not agree on everything.
– When we are members of NATO, we are ready to die for each other. Because of this, trust and mutual respect are needed. We rebuilt the trust that had been dented, Orban said.
Kristersson also said that, as NATO members, the countries must be ready to fight for each other’s security.
Sweden’s membership in the Hungarian Parliament on Monday
Orbán characterized Sweden as a close friend and recalled how Sweden received Hungarian refugees after the 1956 uprising. According to him, the Hungarian Parliament will complete the process on Monday. Orban’s Fidesz party has a majority in parliament.
Sweden and other EU countries have criticized Hungary’s democracy and rule of law development many times. Hungary has also put the brakes on assisting Ukraine in the EU.
At the press conference, Prime Minister Kristersson was able to answer the question whether Sweden, as a NATO ally, can in the future criticize Hungary, for example, for the shortcomings of the country’s democracy.
Kristersson stated that Sweden and several other EU countries have disagreed with Hungary on some EU-related issues. According to the Swedish Prime Minister, trust is based on the fact that you can also have a different opinion on things. According to him, you should be honest and direct. Sometimes good compromises are reached, Kristersson stated.