NATO leaders have seen their efforts to expand their ranks and isolate Russia held up by some of their own.
They'd opened the door to Finland but found the way blocked for Sweden.
Now they've heard the last members of their alliance give their consent.
Leaders in Hungary had promised repeatedly that they would not be the last holdouts.
And Prime Minister Viktor Orban had faced pressure from others in NATO to approve the bid.
He came under more last month when members of the Turkish parliament ratified Sweden's request.
Finally, he asked lawmakers to fall in line.
Leaders in Sweden and Finland applied to join NATO at the same time.
But the Swedes saw their bid drag on for more than 18 months. Then, last week, they agreed to sell Hungary four fighter jets.
(Ulf Kristersson / Swedish Prime Minister)
“Sweden is leaving 200 years of neutrality and non-alignment behind. It is a big step. We must take that seriously.”
They'd opened the door to Finland but found the way blocked for Sweden.
Now they've heard the last members of their alliance give their consent.
Leaders in Hungary had promised repeatedly that they would not be the last holdouts.
And Prime Minister Viktor Orban had faced pressure from others in NATO to approve the bid.
He came under more last month when members of the Turkish parliament ratified Sweden's request.
Finally, he asked lawmakers to fall in line.
Leaders in Sweden and Finland applied to join NATO at the same time.
But the Swedes saw their bid drag on for more than 18 months. Then, last week, they agreed to sell Hungary four fighter jets.
(Ulf Kristersson / Swedish Prime Minister)
“Sweden is leaving 200 years of neutrality and non-alignment behind. It is a big step. We must take that seriously.”
◆holdout 抵抗する人、協力しない人、条件に応じない人
◆bid 申請
◆ratify 承認する、批准する
◆fall in line 合わせる、共同歩調をとる
◆drag on 長引く
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