Swedish PM says OK to meet Orbán over NATO bid

Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson agreed Thursday to meet Viktor Orbán in Budapest, lowering the diplomatic tension over Hungary's lack of progress on ratifying Sweden's NATO membership.

"I agree with you that a more intensive political dialogue between our countries would be beneficial," he wrote in a letter, published by Swedish media SVT. "There are, as you mention, several issues of common interest — bilaterally, with our co-operation on the Gripen fighter aircraft; in the EU, in view of your upcoming Presidency [of the Council of the EU]; and of course, within NATO, as Allies."

"I look forward to discussing all these issues with you in more depth in Budapest at a time convenient for both of us," Kristersson wrote, adding that they would anyway meet on February 1 in Brussels during an EU leaders' summit.

It comes 48 hours after Orbán proposed in a letter to Kristersson that the two meet in Hungary to "exchange views on all issues of common interest, including ... our future cooperation in the field of security and defence as allies and partners."

Swedish Foreign Minister Tobias Billström declined negotiations on NATO with Hungary — but said his country would be open to a "constructive conversation."

Later on Tuesday, Turkey's parliament approved Sweden's bid. The following day, Orbán told NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg that he supported Sweden's application and vowed that Hungary's parliament will say yes "at the first possible opportunity."