To join the Alliance, the Scandinavian country still needs Hungary’s greenlight

Following over 20 months of negotiations between Ankara and Stockholm, the Turkish Parliament finally greenlighted Sweden’s bid to join NATO on 23 January, removing an essential obstacle to the Alliance’s ongoing strengthening.

The membership bid was approved by a large majority of Turkey’s MPs, while only nationalists, Islamist and left-wing parties voted against it.

Considering the aggressive Russian behaviour in Eastern Europe, and the dreaded risk of a broader war on the continent, Stockholm’s accession to NATO would be vital for its security and a critical extra asset for the Alliance, given the country’s geographical position.

During the past months, despite fulfilling the commitments asked by Turkey about the fight against the PKK terrorist organisation, Sweden’s accession has been up in the air – also due to the US Congress delay in delivering F-16 to Turkey, another less-known aspect of the negotiation.

The Turkish vote was warmly welcomed by Sweden and NATO Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson wrote on X (formerly) Twitter: “Today we are one step closer to becoming a full member of NATO. Positive that the Grand General Assembly of Türkiye has voted in favour of Sweden’s NATO accession.”

However, despite enthusiasm, the process still needs to be completed, as Hungary – an EU country that often puts a span also in the bloc’s works – still needs to ratify Sweden’s accession to the Alliance.

Indeed, after welcoming the Turkish Parliament’s decision, NATO’s Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg called on Hungary to follow swiftly.

“I also count on Hungary to complete its national ratification as soon as possible,” he said in a statement late on Tuesday. “All NATO allies agreed in Vilnius to invite Sweden to join our Alliance, and Sweden has fulfilled its commitments. Sweden’s membership makes NATO stronger and all of us safer.”

Meanwhile, encouraging signs come from Hungary. On 23 January, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán sent a letter to Kristersson, inviting him to Budapest to discuss Sweden’s accession, according to Orbán’s post on X.

Caterina Tani from Brussels