Al Mayadeen English

  • Ar
  • Es
  • x
Al Mayadeen English

Slogan

  • News
    • Politics
    • Economy
    • Sports
    • Arts&Culture
    • Health
    • Miscellaneous
    • Technology
    • Environment
  • Articles
    • Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Blog
    • Features
  • Videos
    • NewsFeed
    • Video Features
    • Explainers
    • TV
    • Digital Series
  • Infographs
  • In Pictures
  • • LIVE
News
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Sports
  • Arts&Culture
  • Health
  • Miscellaneous
  • Technology
  • Environment
Articles
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Blog
  • Features
Videos
  • NewsFeed
  • Video Features
  • Explainers
  • TV
  • Digital Series
Infographs
In Pictures
  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Asia-Pacific
  • Europe
  • Latin America
  • MENA
  • Palestine
  • US & Canada
BREAKING
Pakistani army: 6 soldiers and 7 militants killed in clash near the Afghan border
Israeli media: Sirens sound in the settlement of Kerem Shalom in the Gaza envelope area
Afghan source to Al Mayadeen: We still believe in dialogue and prioritize diplomatic solutions with Pakistan; though we are ready for all possibilities.
Afghan source to Al Mayadeen: Pakistan purposely obstructed negotiations in Turkey by making unrealistic demands.
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: More than 70 martyrs in Israeli attacks on Gaza since dawn.
Death toll from latest Israeli strikes on Gaza rises to 30
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: Five killed in the Israeli bombing of a civilian vehicle on Al-Qassam Street in Khan Younis, south of the Gaza Strip
Hamas confirms that it has no connection to the shooting incident in Rafah and affirms its commitment to the ceasefire agreement
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: Two civilians were killed and four others, including a child and an infant, were injured in an Israeli bombing of a house belonging to the Al-Banna family in the al-Sabra neighborhood, south of Gaza City
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: An Israeli airstrike targets the vicinity of Al-Shifa Medical Complex, west of Gaza City

Relations with Sweden 'awfully wrong': Orban

  • By Al Mayadeen English
  • Source: News Websites
  • 24 May 2023 15:19
3 Min Read

The Swedish government has contemplated deferring the objective of joining NATO from the July summit in Vilnius to the bloc's conference in Washington next April.

  • x
  • Orban: Relations with Sweden 'Awfully Wrong'
    Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban looks on during a news conference after the parliamentary election in Budapest, Hungary April 6, 2022. (Reuters)

Faced with opposition from both Turkey and Hungary, the Swedish government has contemplated deferring the objective of joining NATO from the July summit in Vilnius to the bloc's conference in Washington next April, according to numerous sources.

Hungary-Sweden relations are strained and must improve before the Nordic country's NATO membership application is granted, according to Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban addressing the Qatar Economic Forum.

Read more: Stockholm ratification stalls in Budapest, needs to regain trust

Orban's chief of staff has stated that bilateral ties between Hungary and Sweden have reached an all-time low. He also accused Swedish lawmakers of  "making a habit of continually questioning the state of democracy in Hungary," as well as "insulting Hungarian voters and MPs, and, through them, the whole of Hungary."

Related News

Hungary plans anti-Ukraine bloc with Czechia, Slovakia

Lavrov, Rubio discuss preparations for Putin-Trump summit

There is no specific timetable for the Hungarian parliament to vote on Sweden's application for entry, which must be approved by all present members.

In response to Orban's new remarks, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg restated his desire and recommendation that Sweden's application be granted. Stoltenberg mentioned the Turkish election and Sweden's new anti-terror regulations as examples of variables that might ease the Nordic country's entrance. Simultaneously, Stoltenberg stated that the impending NATO summit in Vilnius, Lithuania, is only "a possibility, not a guarantee."

However, Swedish media has been reporting that the government's intention for Swedish NATO membership may be on hold. Instead of being accepted in Vilnius in July, the option of joining NATO only at the bloc's conference in Washington in April of next year is now being considered. The lack of a plan B has drawn criticism from the Social Democrats, a heavyweight party that has dominated Swedish politics since the 1930s. If NATO membership is delayed, the Social Democrats, who are currently in opposition, have advocated for further Nordic cooperation.

Nonetheless, Foreign Minister Tobias Billstrom of the current minority government's liberal-conservative Moderate Party reiterated that the objective for Stockholm is to join NATO in conjunction with the Vilnius meeting.

Sweden and its neighbor Finland applied to join NATO last year, citing changes in the European security picture as a result of the Ukraine crisis. While Finland went on to become a member, Turkiye and Hungary have stymied Sweden's bid, with Budapest citing grievances over Stockholm's criticism of Orban's record on democracy and the rule of law, and Ankara accusing Sweden of harboring what it sees as Kurdish terrorists and, most recently, meddling in Turkish elections.

  • Turkey
  • Hungary
  • Sweden
  • Nato

Most Read

'Israel’s Digital Iron Dome: Weaponizing the web against Palestine

'Israel’s Digital Iron Dome: Weaponizing the web against Palestine

  • Technology
  • 24 Oct 2025
Arab League chief exposes secret US deal shielding 'Israel’s' nukes

Arab League chief exposes secret US deal shielding 'Israel’s' nukes

  • Politics
  • 27 Oct 2025
US missionary kidnapped in Niger capital, suspected taken toward Mali

US missionary kidnapped in Niger capital, suspected taken toward Mali

  • Africa
  • 23 Oct 2025
What Marr evidently didn't seem to understand was that Hedges isn't saying that Western journalists manipulate the truth, but that they systematically amplify Israeli narratives they know are false. (Al Mayadeen English; Illustrated by Batoul Chamas)

Western journalists know they have a case to answer for their betrayal of Gaza, and it frightens them

  • Opinion
  • 24 Oct 2025

Coverage

All
War on Gaza

Read Next

All
Saudi's PIF refocuses on AI, logistics, and religious tourism
Economy

Saudi Arabia's fund refocuses on AI, logistics, and religious tourism

Detained Bahraini activist al-Khawaja starts new hunger strike.
Politics

Detained Bahraini activist al-Khawaja starts new hunger strike

Israel fortifies Gaza’s "yellow line," prepares to dig in.
Politics

'Israel' fortifies Gaza’s 'yellow line,' prepares to dig in: WSJ

President Donald Trump speaks to reporters aboard Air Force One as he travels from Tokyo, Japan, to South Korea, on October 29, 2025. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)
Asia

Trump’s weak dollar strategy risks global fallout: Forbes

Al Mayadeen English

Al Mayadeen is an Arab Independent Media Satellite Channel.

All Rights Reserved

  • x
  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Authors
Android
iOS