Orban: Hungary could soon ratify Sweden's NATO bid

(Patria) - The Hungarian parliament can ratify Sweden's NATO membership when the new spring session convenes later this month, Prime Minister Viktor Orban told his supporters on Saturday, Reuters reports.

"The good news is that our dispute with Sweden will soon be resolved," Orban said.

"We are moving in the direction that at the beginning of the spring session of parliament, we can ratify Sweden's accession to NATO," he added.

The parliament reconvenes on February 26. Sweden applied to join NATO nearly two years ago in a historic policy shift prompted by Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

Orban said he and Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson have taken steps "to rebuild trust" between their two countries. Orban did not say what those steps were.

Hungary is the only NATO country that has not yet ratified Sweden's application, a process that requires the support of all NATO members. The delay has soured relations with the United States and raised concerns among its allies.