Türkiye’s Erdoğan signs off on Sweden’s NATO bid, Hungary remains last to ratify

Turkish nod

Erdoğan published the law two days after the Turkish parliament passed the bill to approve Sweden's bid to join the Western military alliance. The President also has linked the ratification to Türkiye's desire to buy fighter jets from the United States. Ankara is awaiting the U.S. Congress’ approval to purchase 40 new F-16 fighter jets and kits to modernize the country's existing fleet. U.S. administration officials have said they expect relatively quick action on the F-16 sale after the ratification.

"Welcome Türkiye’s approval of the ratification of Sweden’s NATO accession. With this, a key milestone has been reached in Sweden’s path towards NATO membership," Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson tweeted.

The Turkish president's ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) said that Stockholm's stronger action against Kurdish extremists in Sweden was a key factor in Ankara's approval.

Sweden and Finland, breaking off with their historic neutral stance, applied for NATO membership in the summer of 2022 after Russia invaded Ukraine on 24 February. Finland's membership was granted on 4 April last year.

Hungary urged to ratify, invitations come and go

After Turkish MP's nodded on Sweden's accession, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg urged Hungary to follow suit "as soon as possible".

After their telephone discussion on Wednesday, Prime Minister Viktor Orbán posted on X (formerly Twitter) that "[...] the Hungarian government supports the NATO-membership of Sweden.

I also tressed that we will continue to urge the Hungarian National Assembly to vote in favour of Sweden's accession and conclude the ratification at the first possible opportunity.

Given Orbán's iron grip on his party, which has a legislative majority with its minor ally, the Christian Democrats (KDNP) in Parliament, the latter remark sounds hollow.

Orbán has also invited his Swedish counterpart to discuss the Nordic country's NATO membership. Sweden's Foreign Minister Tobias Billström first said such talks would make no sense. "I see no reason to negotiate at this point. What we hope, of course, is that Hungary will ratify membership as soon as possible," he said.

Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson, however, wrote in a letter published by Sweden’s SVT on Thursday that he was looking forward "to discussing all these issues with you in more depth in Budapest at a time convenient for both of us. We will also have an opportunity to meet at the important European Council in Brussels on February 1st."

"These issues" include the two country's "cooperation on the Gripen fighter aircraft; in the EU, in view of your upcoming presidency; and of course, within NATO, as allies."

Kövér kaboom

And when everything appeared to be going well, László Kövér, Speaker of Hungary's Parliament, gave an interview to pro-government news portal Index, and it has gone downhill from there pretty fast.

Kövér said there is no urgency on the ratification of Sweden's membership, and that there was no agreement whatsoever with Ankara on who is ratifying and when. In the interview, the Speaker accused Sweden of treating Hungary with “arrogance and negligence.”

The Swedes - I would note that the Finns too - have gone so far as to vilify Hungary, to denigrate the democratically elected government and to restrict its room for manoeuvre that it cannot be undone or dismissed as an irrelevant circumstance,

he said.

Asked what should the Swedes do, Kövér said that “for example, it would be worthwhile to take each other seriously”. He added that "we are not the minions of anyone", and that the Swedes got something [about Hungary] very wrong.

Asked if there will be an extraordinary session in Parliament to discuss Sweden's accession, he replied that one of the opposition parties will likely try to call one, "probably unsuccessfully", adding that "I do not feel that there is any urgency, and I do not think that there is any exceptional situation."

He said he is one of the members of the ruling Fidesz party that does not support Sweden's NATO membership, but added that he would be

happy if our hopeful allies gave me the chance as soon as possible to change my position in good conscience.

Say what?

Sweden's Foreign Minister Tobias Billström has since responded to the allegations. About Kövér's claim that Sweden vilified and insulted Hungary he told newspaper Aftonbladet:

No, as far as I can see, we have done no such thing. As foreign minister, I have not insulted Hungary.

PM Kristersson told the paper:

The fact that countries have different positions is nothing new. However, they can both be members of NATO and we should take advantage of the cooperation that takes place within NATO. Sweden has not denigrated Hungary.

The Hungarian Parliament is in recess until 26 February.

"It is his opinion and he represents the parliament, but I assume that the Hungarian side is aware of the promises it has made to the outside world. That they will not be the last to ratify Sweden," he added.

Kristersson said that Sweden will not negotiate on Swedish membership of NATO.

There is nothing to negotiate. We are ready for NATO.

He added that the two countries have a lot to talk about, but he would not say whether he will visit Budapest before or after Hungary's parliament ratifies Sweden's NATO bid.

Regardless, the two leaders will meet in Brussels on 1 February for an EU summit.

I don't have any dates right now. We both have fairly busy schedules and these things usually take some time to see which dates are suitable. But we will meet next week in Brussels,

said Kristersson.

Cover photo: Murat Kula/Anadolu via Getty Images