Hungary Gives Nod To Sweden’s NATO Bid After Months Of Holding Out

Hungary has given the go-ahead for Sweden to join NATO after holding out for over a year, The New York Times reported Friday.

Hungary was the last NATO member to ratify Sweden’s bid to join the alliance, but Prime Minister Viktor Orban said Friday the time had come to approve it, according to NYT. Hungary had held out on ratifying Sweden’s bid over disputes between the two countries that went on for 19 months. 

“We are ready to fight for each other, to give our lives for each other,” Orban said during a joint press conference in Budapest alongside Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson. “Today’s meeting is a milestone in a long process… This long process can also be called the process of rebuilding trust, and we can mark the end of this phase today.”