2024-02-06 14:59 update: 2024-02-07, 21:12
Fot. PAP/Albert Zawada
The Polish defence minister has called for a 'coalition of pressure’ to make Hungary ‘immediately agree’ to Sweden joining Nato.
Hungary is the only Nato member state that has not yet approved Sweden's Nato bid after Turkey finally gave the green light to Stockholm. Hungarian government officials have said they want the Swedish prime minister to visit Budapest before approval is given.
But Wladyslaw Kosiniak-Kamysz, Poland's defence minister and deputy prime minister, said at a press conference on Tuesday that Sweden's accession concerned "a fundamental issue of security in Europe and the world, and the strengthening NATO's northern flank."
Kosiniak-Kamysz said: "After the favourable decision of Turkey, which agreed to Sweden's accession to NATO, I believe that the Hungarians should immediately give such consent.
"And any delay, any blocking of the strengthening of the alliance, which also includes Hungary, is to the detriment of the Alliance and will harm our countries, including Hungary."
He added that he would raise the issue with the regional lobby Visegrad Group, consisting of the Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland and Slovakia, and at the forum of European Union ministers as well as with the NATO Secretary General.
"It is worth assembling a coalition to exert positive pressure, positive emotions to encourage Hungary to make a decision as soon as possible," he continued. "I cannot imagine Hungary blocking (Sweden's accession to NATO - PAP) in the long run."
The call comes after the ruling Fidesz-KDNP coalition in Hungary boycotted an extraordinary parliamentary session on Sweden's accession on Monday. (PAP)
ew/jd/jch
