Hungary Ratifies Finland’s NATO Bid, Leaving Sweden Behind

Ten months after Finland and Sweden applied together to join NATO, only Finland is about to be welcomed to the military alliance. The membership bids were sparked by Putin's war in Ukraine. To be approved, both countries needed ratification from all 30 existing members, while 28 of those countries were quick to sign off, Turkey and Hungary were holdouts. Now Turkey will finally approve Finland's NATO bid, and Hungary has chumped on the same bandwagon. But by approving just Finland, Turkey and Hungary are effectively decoupling the Nordic countries bids to join the North Atlantic Treaty Organization together, leaving Sweden to face an indefinite wait. Finland's entry will more than double the length of NATO's border with Russia. It will enable improved surveillance of Russia's western border, and make it easier to defend the three Baltic states.

For NATO, Sweden's entry would be beneficial as the country acts as a key supply route and brings depth to the defenses of Finland. Still, Turkey remains dissatisfied and its demanding Sweden take more steps to crack down on Kurdish groups outlawed in Turkey. A new anti-terror law is set to enter into force, tune the first in Sweden, and could help sway Turkey. The US has pushed for the far stratification of both and most allies want the Northern enlargement completed before NATO's upcoming summit in July.