Hungary and Sweden signed a contract for the sale of fighter jets
| During the visit of the Prime Minister of Sweden to Hungary, as a precondition for the country's agreement to Sweden's membership in NATO, the parties concluded the fighter contract to strengthen military cooperation. |
According to the report of the international group Tasnim news agency quoting “NTV”, after months of disputes and disputes, Hungary wants to give Sweden the green light to join the NATO military alliance. In Budapest, the heads of these two countries have now agreed on this and are using this opportunity to arrange the delivery of warplanes.
After Hungary agreed to join Sweden in NATO, the two countries agreed on a comprehensive arms deal. In a press conference attended by Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán and Swedish Prime Minister Olaf Kristerson in Budapest, it was announced that Hungary will purchase four new Swedish Jas 39 Gripen fighters. In addition, the two EU countries signed a maintenance and logistics contract for 14 ex-Gripen aircraft, which Hungary has leased from Sweden since 2006 and are due to become Hungary’s full ownership in 2026, for ten years until 2036.
Orbán said in this press conference: “The basis of Hungary’s foreign policy is gathering friends, even if you don’t always see it.” Both politicians stressed that it is important to work more closely together on things they agree on, acknowledging that there can also be differences of opinion. Kristersson said: “We are both members of the European Union, we will soon be united in NATO.” Orban’s ruling right-wing populist party (Fidesz) met the criteria set for Sweden’s NATO membership. Sweden’s NATO membership plan is expected to be approved by the Hungarian Parliament this Monday.
The faction of the Fidesz party had rejected the green light for Sweden joining NATO for months. The reason given repeatedly was that they were offended by the Swedes’ criticism of the rule of law in Hungary. Sweden must restore this trust. Christerson’s request for a visit from the Hungarian government was also due to the fact that he had traveled to this country to meet with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in order to end Turkey’s blockade against his country’s accession to NATO.
Orbán said on Hungarian radio that the Fidesz faction had fallen short because he had changed their minds through military cooperation with Sweden. Orban said the “confidence-building process” with Sweden would now be completed. “Sweden lives according to different values than Hungary and both sides have to accept that we are not the same,” Orban said about the “insult” of Sweden, which Fidesz has so far complained about.
| Publisher | Tasnim News |
