You may be pardoned for overlooking this international news story – last week, Hungary’s Minister Viktor Orban agreed to allow Sweden to join the NATO alliance, bringing the total number of NATO countries to 32.
Hungary has blocked Sweden’s admission into the alliance for 19 months for a variety of reasons, including complaints over Swedish accusations of democratic backsliding in Hungary under Mr. Orban, teaching materials critical of Hungary in Swedish schools, and comments that Swedish Prime Minister Kristersson made years before taking office.
This reversal followed an announcement by Sweden that it would provide Hungary with fighter jets and that Saab, the maker of the warplanes, will open an artificial intelligence research center in Hungary. Orban said that the timing is merely coincidental, but I have my doubts about this.
One paragraph in the New York Times article linked Hungary’s reversal to domestic politics in the United States.
Sweden’s membership became entangled in Mr. Orban’s frosty relations with the Biden administration, which has strongly supported Sweden’s bid to join the alliance, and with the Hungarian leader’s opposition to Washington’s policy of supporting Ukraine with weapons.
Here’s a not-behind-the-paywall link to this New York Times article.
Feeling good about Sweden, still skeptical about Hungary, and still scratching my head over Turkey. I just threw Turkey in there, because I don't know much recent history about Turkey, just the negative stuff.