Information
Hungary’s Prime Minister, Viktor Orban, announced on Friday that his country is buying four new Saab JAS Gripen fighter jets from Sweden. The deal will add to Hungary’s existing fleet of 14 Gripen jets after Hungary changed its mind on blocking Sweden’s accession to the NATO military alliance. During a joint press conference with Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson in Budapest, Orban announced that the deal would enhance Hungary’s air defence capability and its commitment to NATO. The logistics contract will also be expanded. Kristersson praised the deal, calling the Gripen jets “a pride of Sweden.”
Hungary’s parliament is scheduled to vote on Monday to approve Stockholm’s application to join the NATO alliance. Orban’s nationalist Fidesz party, which holds a majority in parliament with the Christian democratic KDNP, has indicated that it will support Sweden’s application. All opposition parties, except the far-right Our Homeland movement, favour ratification. Sweden, along with Finland, abandoned its decades-old military neutrality by announcing its plan to join NATO after Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022. However, Hungary and Turkey opposed Sweden’s application, delaying its ratification. Hungary was unhappy with Sweden’s criticism of Orban’s rule-of-law record, while Turkey accused Stockholm of supporting terrorist groups. Unanimous support from all NATO members is required to admit new countries. Budapest has faced months of pressure from NATO allies and the European Union to drop its opposition to Sweden’s application.
Source: Reuters, AFP
Assessment
Much like Turkey, it is highly likely that Orban wanted to extract some concessions out of NATO and the EU as part of allowing Sweden into the group. It is possible that the sale of these fighter jets are part of that arrangement, though it is likely that more could follow. Additionally, Hungary likely wanted to show some notional resistance to NATO’s growth to appease Russia, as Hungary remains one of Russia’s only friendly countries within the group.
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