Hungary and Sweden are two European countries that have had rich cultural ties throughout history, but are positioned differently in terms of security. With their long history and rich cultural heritage, Hungary and Sweden are located in different geographies of Europe, yet they have deep relations from the past to the present.
With the Russian aggression against Ukraine in 2022, Finland and Sweden expressed their security concerns more prominently after this event and applied to NATO for NATO membership in May 2022. Taking the first step to secure themselves, Finland quickly completed this process and was accepted as a NATO member in April 2023. However, delays in Sweden’s approval process led to diplomatic tensions.
In the recent process for Sweden’s NATO membership, the Hungarian administration took an unexpected stance and delayed the ratification process, which led to diplomatic tensions in the international arena. While the Hungarian government did not give a clear reason for this delay, senior politicians from the ruling Fidesz Party argued that Sweden’s criticism of Hungarian democracy was the main reason for the delay.
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban sent a letter to his Swedish counterpart Ulf Kristersson, inviting him to Budapest to discuss Sweden’s accession to the NATO military alliance. On this issue, Orbán stated:[1]
“I invite you to visit Hungary as soon as possible to exchange views on all issues of common interest, including our complex bilateral relations, our future cooperation in the field of security and defense as allies and partners, and Hungary’s upcoming Presidency of the Council of the European Union.”
In response to the letter, Kristersson also stated that they will have the opportunity to speak at the European Council meeting in Brussels on February 1, 2024:[2]
“The completion of the ratification process of Sweden’s NATO membership in the Hungarian parliament will lay a solid foundation for further progress in our bilateral relations and for strengthening mutual understanding and trust. A more intensive dialogue between our countries would be beneficial.”
Following the developing and growing opinions, Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson said on January 26, 2024 that Sweden would not negotiate with Hungary on its application to join NATO, where Budapest is still the only member of the alliance that has not ratified.[3]
US Ambassador David Pressman expressed disappointment at the delay in Hungary’s ratification of Sweden’s NATO membership, criticizing the Budapest administration for being “really lonely” and pursuing a “foreign dream” instead of a foreign policy. “We are disappointed that it has taken so long. And we expect Hungary to fulfill its commitment to the US and other allies,” he summarized.[4]
Although the Hungarian government officially supports Sweden’s membership in NATO, it is believed that the Hungarian Parliament has refrained from voting on the issue. Hungary’s failure to honor its commitment to ratify Sweden’s NATO membership could undermine this trust within the alliance.
Orbán routinely criticizes Western allies while improving relations with Moscow and Beijing. This suggests that this is the reason for the decision on NATO. Hungary’s lack of formal objection to Sweden’s NATO membership suggests a departure from structured negotiations. However, Hungary’s delay in approving Sweden’s membership calls into question its position within NATO and can be attributed to domestic political dynamics, particularly Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán’s close relations with Russia.
The historical cultural ties between Hungary and Sweden have recently taken on a new dimension with a recent development in the field of security. Despite the statements of Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson, it is not clear why Hungary has delayed this process. Hungary’s isolation within NATO and the US disappointment with this situation draw attention to this impasse in international relations. As US Ambassador David Pressman emphasized, the strength of an alliance is based on commitment and trust among its members.
For a deeper understanding of Hungary’s relations with Sweden, it is important to focus on Orbán’s foreign policy preferences, and in particular his relations with Russia and China. This provides an important context for understanding how Hungary is positioned not only in the NATO context but also in terms of its overall foreign policy strategies. These complex dynamics could have a decisive impact on the future of relations between Hungary and Sweden.
[1] Stuart Lau, “Sweden declines Orbán’s push for NATO negotiations”, Politico, https://www.politico.eu/article/sweden-declines-orbans-push-for-nato-negotiations/, (Date of Access: 26.01.2024).
[2] “Swedish PM Kristersson Agrees To Meet Hungary’s Orban For Talks On NATO Bid”, Aljazeera, https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2024/1/25/swedish-pm-kristersson-agrees-to-meet-hungarys-orban-for-talks-on-nato-bid, (Date of Access: 26.01.2024).
[3] “Swedish PM Says Won’t Negotiate With Hungary On NATO, Stoltenberg ‘Confident’”, Reuters, https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/sweden-will-not-negotiate-with-hungary-nato-much-discuss-pm-kristersson-says-2024-01-26/, (Date of Access: 26.01.2024).
[4] Lili Bayer, “US ‘Disappointed’ Hungary Taking So Long To Approve Sweden Joining Nato”, The Guardian,
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2024/jan/26/us-disappointed-that-hungary-taking-so-long-to-approve-sweden-joining-nato, (Date of Access: 26.01.2024).
