As the Stockholm daily points out, Hungary wants to get its money, just like Turkey, and the letter from Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban to Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson with an invitation to Budapest was not sent for no reason. The newspaper states that “the Swedish government had already received similar invitations and provocations, but it did not want to start any dialogue.”
The Hungarian authorities have so far supported Sweden's invitation to join NATO
According to DN, the authorities in Stockholm have not yet given much importance to the issue of Hungary's negative attitude towards the Swedish request, because, unlike Turkey, it has not raised any objections. Orban supported Sweden's invitation to NATO at the Madrid summit in 2022. The Hungarian government also promised that the parliament in Budapest would not be the last to approve Sweden's request.
DN confirms that the Swedish authorities have greater opportunities to exert behind-the-scenes pressure on Orban's government compared to the Turkish authorities led by President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. The newspaper indicates that military cooperation is the key, and Hungary is leasing Swedish Jas Gripen fighter planes, and the agreement on this matter is currently being renegotiated. Sweden, in cooperation with NATO, is establishing a Strategic Air Transport Program (Strategic Air Transport Capability), the aircraft of which are based at Hungary's Baba Airport.
very expensive
The newspaper indicates that Sweden “paid” a heavy price to Turkey in exchange for its approval of Sweden's request to join NATO. “Ankara not only demanded a number of measures, such as increased anti-terrorism activities and the possibility of purchasing weapons from Sweden, but Stockholm also became a hostage when Turkey wanted to purchase weapons systems from other NATO countries,” he added.
Türkiye is negotiating with the United States about purchasing F-16 fighter jets.
