This agreement will strengthen European security and benefit both countries, said Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson.
The Hungarian Parliament will approve the protocol on Sweden’s accession to NATO. This statement was made by the head of the Hungarian government, Viktor Orban, on Friday, February 23, after signing an agreement with his Swedish counterpart, Ulf Kristersson, on further cooperation with the Jas 39 Gripen fighters.
“Parliament will meet on Monday and make the necessary decisions that will complete this phase,” Orban said at a press conference with Kristersson in Budapest, media from both countries reported.
The Hungarian parliament’s upcoming decision on Sweden’s accession protocol to NATO will remove the last obstacle to the Alliance’s expansion.
In addition, Orban and Kristersson agreed that Sweden will provide Hungary with four more Jas 39 Gripen fighters as part of the security agreement. Budapest previously leased 14 such aircraft with an option to purchase. The new agreement will run until 2036.
“This agreement will strengthen European security and benefit both countries. I am pleased that more Gripen aircraft will soon fly in European airspace,” said Ulf Kristersson.
As you know, on February 5, Orbán’s party Fidesz boycotting Sweden’s NATO membership vote. The deputies did not just come to the extraordinary meeting of the parliament, where a vote on this issue was planned.
At the same time, Hungary remains the only NATO member that has not yet approved Sweden’s membership, although Budapest has repeatedly assured that it will be ready to ratify the country’s entry into the Alliance as soon as Turkey does so. In turn, Ankara made this decision on January 25.
But this week found out Fidesz decided to approve the ratification of Sweden’s application to join NATO.
Source: korrespondent
I am David Wyatt, a professional writer and journalist for Buna Times. I specialize in the world section of news coverage, where I bring to light stories and issues that affect us globally. As a graduate of Journalism, I have always had the passion to spread knowledge through writing.