Hungary's parliament speaker signs off on Sweden's NATO accession

Hungarian parliament speaker Laszlo Kover has signed off on the ratification of Sweden's NATO accession and forwarded the legislation to the president's office for promulgation, voting records on parliament's website showed on Saturday.

Lawmakers approved Sweden's NATO accession on February 26, clearing the last hurdle before the historic step by the Nordic country, whose neutrality lasted through two world wars and the Cold War.

The Hungarian vote ended months of delays to complete Sweden's security policy shift and followed a visit by Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson, during which the two countries signed an arms deal.

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban's government has faced pressure from NATO allies to fall in line and seal Sweden's accession to the alliance. Hungary's president now has up to five days to promulgate the legislation.

Hungary's parliament voted in favor of Sweden's bid to join NATO on Monday afternoon. Unanimous support from all 31 NATO members is required for new countries to join the military alliance.

In response to the voting result, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg wrote on social media later that day, "Now that all Allies have approved, Sweden will become the 32nd NATO Ally."

Stockholm abandoned its non-alignment policy for what it perceives to be greater safety within the North Atlantic Treaty Organization after the Russia-Ukraine crisis in 2022.

(With input from Reuters)

(Cover: Hungarian Parliament Speaker Laszlo Kover takes part in the ceremony of unveiling the bust of Marshal Jozef Pilsudski on the occasion of 100 years of Poland's independence in Budapest, Hungary, September 26, 2018. /Reuters)