Sweden became the 32d member of NATO Monday as Hungary's Russia-friendly parliament became the last NATO state to approve. The vote in Budapest follows over 600 days of prevarication, obstruction, and general dishonesty by Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, who tried to create a facade of support while throwing up roadblocks to progress.
The saga started in May 2022 as both Finland and Sweden realized that Russian aggression in Ukraine posed a threat to them as well. On May 18, 2022, both countries applied for NATO membership, breaking a longstanding policy of neutrality.
BACKGROUND:
Putin’s Threats to Sweden and Finland Are Much More Real Than They Are Being Given Credit For
Finland Announces It Will Join NATO, Sweden to Follow, While Moscow Makes Its Usual Threats
As if to underscore the stated reason for wanting to join NATO, Russia made threats of military and political retaliation against Finland and Sweden.
Attention, Finland!
— Anton Gerashchenko (@Gerashchenko_en) April 1, 2023
Russian propagandists talk about the need to "liberate the brotherly Finnish people" pic.twitter.com/D9QFXOzlBH
Finland's path to NATO membership was fairly rapid.
BACKGROUND:
Finland Officially Joins NATO, Ukraine Expected to Make Membership Push Next
Finland Joining NATO Marks a Political and Military Disaster for Russia and Putin
Sweden's route was much more fraught with Turkey, in particular, demanding concessions from Sweden on granting political asylum to Kurdish patriots that Turkey has classified as terrorists. Turkey agreed in January to Sweden's membership in NATO, leaving Hungary as the only remaining obstacle.
BACKGROUND: Turkey Signed Off on Sweden's NATO Membership, Hungary's Orban Is Dragging His Feet and No One Knows Why
What makes Hungary's reluctance to ratify Sweden's application to join NATO so suspicious is that the public acts ran contrary to statements and promises by Orban and his government.
When Finland and Sweden were first offered NATO membership, Orban promised his closest Western European ally, Poland's Mateusz Morawiecki, that he would see that Hungary ratified their membership.
After a meeting with Mr. Orban in November 2022, Poland’s then conservative prime minister, Mateusz Morawiecki, declared that the Hungarian leader had given a firm commitment to ratify the NATO membership of both Finland and Sweden “as soon as possible.” That, Mr. Morawiecki said, was a “promise.”
This wasn't a case of misspeaking. Orban's foreign minister, Peter Szijjarto, pledged, “We will not be the last one to ratify. This is a promise that we will keep for sure.” In the cold light of Turkey's approval, this is nothing less than a lie, told twice, the last time in December 2023, to ostensible allies.
Anyway, the deed is done. If one is to take Putin at his word (lolol) that fear of NATO encircling Russia was a reason for him to invade Ukraine, then he should be very pleased with himself now.
Some pro-Russian commentators are shouting that Russia invaded Ukraine to stop NATO enlargement. Of course, this is an empty lie, but despite this, the Kremlin seeng two new NATO members in its immediate neighbourhood - Sweden & Finland. Now, the Baltic Sea is mostly NATO's sea. pic.twitter.com/rwNcK1aWI4
— Giorgi Koberidze (@GiorgiKob) February 26, 2024
The Baltic Sea surrounds the Russian enclave (it's only Russian territory through theft and ethnic cleansing), and all traffic in and out must pass through NATO territory. As the Lithuanian Ambassador to Sweden, Linas Linkevicius, said, "The Baltic Sea became a NATO internal sea."
“Russia's Kaliningrad region will be "neutralized" if Moscow provokes a conflict with NATO.”
— Yasmina (@yasminalombaert) February 27, 2024
A clear message to Putin from the Lithuanian Ambassador to Sweden, Linas Linkevicius.
“After Sweden was integrated into the alliance, the Baltic Sea became a NATO internal sea. If… pic.twitter.com/qtil9wWLrz
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