Swedish PM to visit Hungary before ratification of NATO bid
(VOVWORLD) - Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson will travel to Budapest on Friday to meet Hungarian counterpart Viktor Orban before Hungary's parliament takes a long-delayed vote on Sweden's bid for NATO membership next Monday.
 Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson (Photo: Xinhua/VNA) |
Sweden applied to join the transatlantic alliance nearly two years ago in a historic policy shift away from non-alignment prompted by the conflict in Ukraine.
Hungary is the only NATO member that has yet to ratify Sweden’s accession, with Orban's nationalist party repeatedly delaying a vote, citing grievances over Sweden criticizing Hungary over its record on rule-of-law standards.
Orban said on Tuesday that it would be a "pleasure" to welcome Kristersson in Budapest.