A number of NATO members are increasing pressure on Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban to immediately approve Sweden's entry into the alliance, after Hungarian lawmakers refused to vote on Sweden's candidacy this week.
Sweden applied to join the NATO alliance in May 2022, after Russia invaded Ukraine in February that year. But Hungary has repeatedly delayed ratification of Sweden's membership.
Hungary is the only country to prevent Sweden from joining NATO, after Turkey gave its consent last month. Ankara previously expressed concern regarding Sweden's decision to protect a Kurdish separatist group that Turkey considers terrorists.
As the Hungarian parliament enters its winter recess, a number of opposition lawmakers held an extraordinary session on Monday (5/2) in an attempt to force a vote.
Members of Orban's Fidesz party refused to attend, even though Orban declared last month that he supported Sweden joining NATO and would urge his party to agree to Sweden's request.
United States Ambassador to Hungary David Pressman speaks to reporters after attending a meeting of lawmakers in Budapest on Monday.
“The prime minister promised to hold a meeting with MPs to encourage them to act as quickly as possible,” he said on Monday. “Today is an opportunity to do just that, and we are waiting and watching closely, and (waiting for) Hungary to act quickly.”
US Senator Ben Cardin, chairman of the US Senate Foreign Relations Committee, said earlier this month that Hungary was NATO's “least reliable” ally and Washington should consider imposing sanctions, as well as suspending the visa waiver program for Hungarian citizens.
Meanwhile, a German government spokesman said on Tuesday that Hungary's agreement to Sweden's membership was “a matter of loyalty” to the NATO alliance.
Orban himself does not have specific requests regarding Sweden's request but has indicated his displeasure regarding the country's criticism of the decline of democracy in Hungary.
Hungarian lawmakers from the Fidesz party want Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson to visit Budapest before they grant Sweden membership in NATO. (hour/day)