NATO had hoped to welcome Sweden into the fold at the summit, but there is no sign the Turkish or Hungarian legislatures will ratify the accession in time. “I will say that we do condemn it; we're deeply concerned by the act,” said State Department spokesman Matthew Miller last week. Joining NATO requires a consensus of all current members, and Hungarian lawmakers have indicated they do not plan to take up Sweden’s bid until this fall, at the earliest. But Hungary has never spelled out its objections to Sweden, and NATO officials hope that once Turkey gives its approval, Hungary will too. Last week, after speaking to Orban, Sweden’s prime minister said he was given assurances Hungary would not block Sweden’s eventual membership.

Source: Washington Post July 05, 2023 11:00 UTC