Hungarian Leader’s NATO Comment: If Turkey’s Objections Continue…

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban has said that if Turkey’s objections to Sweden’s NATO membership continue, the military alliance’s expansion plans may fail.

Except for Turkey and Hungary, all NATO member states approved Sweden and Finland, which applied for alliance membership after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. It was announced that Hungary will also vote on Finland’s and Sweden’s NATO membership in early March.

Turkey, for its part, closed the doors to Sweden’s accession after the actions against President Tayyip Erdoğan and the provocation of burning the Koran.

Speaking on state radio, Orban said Turkey’s concerns about NATO enlargement should be heard.

Noting that there are also those within the nationalist Fidesz party, of which he is the founder, who are against NATO expansion, Orban said he favors Sweden and Finland joining the alliance. Orban stated that the issue should be further discussed.