Hungary ratified Finland’s Nato membership on Monday in the latest sign of prime minister Viktor Orbán slowly turning away from Russia as the economic benefits of their relationship fades.
Tamás Menczer, the junior foreign minister, told parliament that including Finland in the transatlantic defence pact made military sense. “World war three has never been as close as now,” he said, reiterating that Hungary would do everything to avoid armed conflict and achieve peace talks.
Finland’s push to join the military alliance and expand Nato’s border with Russia was held up for 10 months by Turkey, mainly owing to Ankara’s concerns over Sweden, which had applied at the same time as its Nordic neighbour.