Parliament Votes in Favor of Finland Joining NATO

Hungarian Parliament was the last but one of NATO member states to give its assent to Finland's accession to NATO late on Monday afternoon, adopting the proposal to ratify Finland's application for NATO membership, which was submitted to Parliament more than eight months ago.

Members of the Hungarian Parliament approved the law on the proclamation of the accession protocol by 182 votes to 6.

Sweden and Finland applied for membership of the transatlantic military alliance last year after Russian forces invaded Ukraine, and all 30 NATO member states must ratify their applications to join. Before today, only Hungary and Turkey refrained from ratification.

Finland has now been given the green light by Hungary, just as it seems that Turkey may have been appeased by the Sanna Marin-led Nordic country. However, Sweden's application for NATO membership will be decided later, both by Hungary and Turkey.

"Thank you for the clear decision," Finnish Prime Minister Sanna Marin wrote on her Twitter page shortly after Hungarian Parliament gave its consent. She also spoke in favor of Sweden's swift accession.

Finland and Sweden's membership of NATO will strengthen the security of the whole alliance. It is in everyone's interest for Sweden to become a member of NATO before the Vilnius Summit, the Finnish Prime Minister stressed.