Orban meets Swedish PM to sign defense industry deal ahead of Stockholm’s NATO bid ratification by Hungarian parliament

Hungary will sign a defense industry deal with Sweden, Prime Minister Viktor Orban said ahead of a meeting with his Swedish counterpart Ulf Kristersson, as Budapest prepares to finally ratify Stockholm’s NATO bid, Reuters reported on Feb. 23.

“We will close all pending issues, and we will sign a defense industry deal, a serious one considering Hungary’s size, and we will also lay down some decisions or ... goals about military cooperation,” Orban told state radio without providing any details.

Read also: Sweden to allow NATO to base troops before official accession

The two prime ministers will hold a press conference later today, before Hungary’s parliament is due to approve Sweden’s NATO membership bid in a vote on Feb. 26.

“On Monday the Hungarian parliament will put the final seal on it,” Orban said.

Read also: Hungary about to ratify Sweden’s NATO membership

Sweden applied to join the transatlantic alliance nearly two years ago in a historic policy shift away from non-alignment prompted by Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

Hungary is the only NATO member that has yet to ratify the Nordic country’s accession, with Orban’s ruling Fidesz party repeatedly delaying a vote, citing grievances over Sweden criticizing Hungary over its record on rule-of-law standards.

On Feb. 20, the Fidesz party led by Orbán proposed the parliament to vote on ratification of Sweden’s NATO membership application on Feb. 26.

Russia stands as the biggest international threat to Sweden’s security, Charlotte von Essen, the chief of the Swedish security service, said during a press conference presenting the annual report on threats to the country, Reuters reported on Feb. 21.

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