Orbán reaffirms backing for Swedish Nato bid as allies’ patience runs low

Hungarian parliament yet to sign off on bid despite repeated promises not to hold up process alone

Viktor Orbán has said he will urge the Hungarian parliament to sign off on Sweden’s Nato bid “at the first possible opportunity”, as diplomats said Hungary’s allies were “exasperated” by the country’s foot-dragging.

Sweden applied to join Nato in May 2022 but its accession was delayed as Turkey and Hungary strung out the ratification process.