Hungarian parliament approves Finland's NATO bid

A view of the Hungarian parliament as it votes for the ratification of Finland's NATO membership in Budapest, Hungary, March 27, 2023. Credit: Reuters Photo

Hungary's parliament on Monday approved Finland's bid to join NATO, ending months of delays and bringing the Nordic country one step closer to becoming a full member of the Western military alliance.

Hungarian lawmakers voted 182 for and only six against with no abstentions. The vote came after Hungary's government frustrated allies in NATO and the European Union by repeatedly postponing the measure for months after nearly all other members of the alliance had ratified Finland's bid.

With Hungary's approval, Turkey is now the only one of NATO's 30 members not to have ratified Finland's NATO accession.

Also Read | Turkey's president says he will back Finland's NATO bid

Admitting a new country requires unanimity among all member nations.

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