Swedish premier to visit Budapest to discuss bilateral security, defense cooperation

By Ahmet Gencturk

ATHENS (AA) – Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson on Friday will visit Budapest to meet his Hungarian counterpart Victor Orban to discuss bilateral defense and security cooperation, with a critical vote on Sweden’s NATO bid likely soon, local media reported on Tuesday.

Preparations for Hungary's upcoming EU presidency and the bloc's strategic agenda will also be discussed during the meeting between the two premiers, which will take place on Hungary’s initiative, added Swedish public broadcaster SVT.

The meeting will be followed by a joint news conference, it said.

Hungary’s ruling Fidesz party on Tuesday proposed holding a vote next Monday on the ratification of Sweden’s bid to join NATO.

For Sweden to join NATO, the approval of 31 member states is required.

Hungary remains the only NATO ally that has yet to approve Sweden's membership in the alliance after the Turkish parliament last month ratified its application.

Sweden and Finland applied for NATO membership in May 2022 following the start of Russia's war on Ukraine earlier that year.

Finland joined the alliance as its 31st member last April.