NATO blockade

USA slowly losing patience with Hungary

The Hungarian opposition did hold a special parliamentary session on Sweden's accession to NATO last Monday. However, the united absence of Prime Minister Viktor Orbán's parliamentary group meant that no resolution could be passed. Now the USA is also slowly losing patience with its ally.

"Our patience cannot be limitless", said US President Joe Biden's National Security Advisor, Jake Sullivan, in Brussels on Wednesday. Washington is hoping for "a constructive solution to this issue in the very short term". 

Sullivan took part in a meeting of the 31 NATO countries and Sweden in the Belgian capital. He said that all the security advisors had made it clear to the Hungarian representative that it was finally time for Sweden to join.

Waiting for ratification
Hungary is the last NATO country that has not yet ratified the Swedish accession protocol. Alliance Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said that he had spoken to Orbán on the phone a few days ago. Orbán had reassured him that he supported Swedish membership and that the necessary vote in parliament would take place soon.

However, Orbán has not yet been able or willing to keep this promise. It is suspected in NATO and the EU that Orbán wants to reprimand Sweden for its criticism of rule of law deficiencies in Hungary.