[ad_1]
STOCKHOLM (AP) — Hungary’s parliament approved Sweden’s request will join NATO on Monday, paving the way for the Scandinavian country to become the alliance’s 32nd member.
Hungary was the last stronghold after Türkiye. accepted the accession of Sweden in January. New arrivals must be approved by all existing NATO members.
Once neutral, Sweden and neighboring Finland decided to seek NATO membership after Russia invasion of ukraine in February 2022. While Finland joined in April last year, Sweden had to wait as both Turkey and Hungary delayed the process.
These are some of the key developments in Sweden’s path to becoming a member of NATO.
___
February 24, 2022: Russia invades Ukraine after a month of troop buildup. Support for NATO membership is growing in both Sweden and Finland, but Swedish Prime Minister Magdalena Andersson rules out joining the alliance, saying it would increase tensions in the region.
May 15, 2022: Andersson’s Social Democrats change course and say Sweden would be better off joining NATO along with Finland.
May 18, 2022: The Swedish and Finnish governments submit your official request letters to NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg. The measure has the support of a clear majority of legislators in the Swedish Parliament.
June 28, 2022: Sweden, Finland and Türkiye sign a deal at a NATO summit in which the two Nordic countries agree to support Turkey against Kurdish militants in Turkey and Syria. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan previously accused Finland and Sweden of being too soft on militant groups that Turkey views as threats to its national security.
July 5, 2022: Canada, Iceland, Norway and Denmark are the first NATO members to approve the two newcomers. By the end of September, all members had ratified the accession of Sweden and Finland, except Turkey and Hungary.
October 18, 2022: A center-right coalition government takes power in Sweden after winning a parliamentary election. New Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson promises to continue pushing for NATO membership.
March 22, 2023: Swedish legislators formally approve join NATO. The decision authorizes the government to join the organization once all NATO members have ratified Sweden’s membership.
April 4, 2023: Finland becomes the 31st member of NATO after receiving the green light from Türkiye and Hungary. However, both countries delay their decisions on Sweden.
June 1, 2023: A new anti-terrorism law comes into force that aims to at least partially address Turkish concerns that Sweden needs to take concrete steps to crack down on militant groups that have carried out attacks in Turkey.
July 10, 2023: in a NATO summit in LithuaniaLeaders say Erdogan has promised to send Sweden’s accession documents to the Turkish parliament for approval.
September 11, 2023: Kristersson government says so wants to increase its defense budget by 28%, which puts it on track to achieve the military spending target of 2% of gross domestic product established by the NATO alliance.
October 23, 2023: Erdogan presents Sweden’s request to the Turkish parliament for ratification.
December 26, 2023: a Turkish parliamentary committee approve Sweden’s bid to become a member of NATO.
January 23, 2024: Türkiye parliament supports Sweden’s request to NATO.
February 18, 2024: A bipartisan delegation of US senators pays an official visit to the capital of Hungarycalling on the government to immediately approve Sweden’s application to NATO.
February 26, 2024: Hungary’s parliament votes to ratify Sweden’s candidacy to join NATO.
[ad_2]
Source link