Hungary aligns with Ankara on Sweden's NATO bid

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Agencies
5 Jul 2023 00:35

Expectations are high on the part of NATO for Turkey to approve Sweden's membership ahead of a summit of leaders that is due to be held in Lithuania on July 11-12.

Hungary’s Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto, center, arrives for a meeting of EU foreign ministers at the European Council building in Brussels on Monday, Jan. 23, 2023 (AP)

Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto said on Tuesday that Budapest is in constant consultation with Ankara on the matter pertaining to Sweden's bid to join the Western military alliance of NATO.

During a briefing on Tuesday, Szijjarto said that Hungary will not delay Stockhom's accession to the alliance if progress is made between Turkey and Sweden.

"In the course of the last few days, I have spoken a lot with my counterpart, the head of the Turkish Foreign Ministry, who will be holding consultations with the Swedish side and NATO representatives in the coming days. So we will also be in close and constant contact with the Turkish Foreign Minister in the days ahead. And if some progress is made, we will keep our word that Hungary will not delay the membership of any country in NATO," Szijjarto said.

Expectations are high on the part of NATO for Turkey to approve Sweden's membership ahead of a summit of leaders that is due to be held in Lithuania on July 11-12.

Turkey and Hungary are the only two members who have still not ratified Sweden's accession to the alliance.

In order for a country to ascend to full membership status, it must gain the unanimous approval of all members.

"We never approve of the use of time pressure as a method," Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said on Tuesday.

Sweden has failed to satisfy all the requirements set by Ankara to gain Turkey's approval for Stockholm's ascension.

The Nordic country has lately made headlines due to the controversial granting of permits that allows protesters to carry out acts of desecration of the Quran.

Other matters of concern include the failure to extradite people that Turkish authorities consider terrorists.

"Sweden's security system is not able to stop provocations. This is not bringing more strength but more problems to NATO," Fidan told reporters.

"In terms of strategy and security, when we are discussing Sweden's membership of NATO, it's a question of whether it will be a benefit or a burden," he added.