Scottyboi
Well-Known Member
Hungary's parliament is expected to vote on Sweden's NATO application today, Monday. If approved, the JAS Gripen Fighter Jet for Ukraine will then be considered by Sweden.
Voting is expected to begin at 4:20 p.m. on Monday after an address by Prime Minister Viktor Orbán. If approved the decision must then be signed by the president and sent to the U.S. State Department, which deposits the NATO treaty and NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg can then give Sweden a formal invitation to join the alliance.
Meanwhile the political pressure is mounting in Sweden to send the Gripen fighter jet to Ukraine, something which the Swedish goverment has made conditional on Sweden joining NATO.
A decision to send Jas Gripen to Ukraine must be made immediately, according to the opposition Center Party leader Muharrem Demirok. All opposition parties in Sweden are in favour, but the Social Democrats have had a reservation that Sweden should first be a member of NATO.
"When that happens, it's time to send planes", Social Democrat party leader Magdalena Andersson said in a speech at Sergels torg in Stockholm this weekend at a manifestation in support of Ukraine.
The government and Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson have announced that they will not take a position on the issue until after the NATO accession.
The Swedish Armed Forces have conducted a review of whether Sweden can send planes, but the conclusions are classified.
"In all its announcements, regardless of weapon system, the Armed Forces have been clear that the restocking for Sweden must follow what we can spare. This is extremely important," says Muharrem Demirok.
He points out that the Jas Gripen manufacturer Saab has been open about the fact that the company has a number of ready-made fighter jet frames, which means that they can relatively quickly replace planes sent to Ukraine.
Voting is expected to begin at 4:20 p.m. on Monday after an address by Prime Minister Viktor Orbán. If approved the decision must then be signed by the president and sent to the U.S. State Department, which deposits the NATO treaty and NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg can then give Sweden a formal invitation to join the alliance.
Meanwhile the political pressure is mounting in Sweden to send the Gripen fighter jet to Ukraine, something which the Swedish goverment has made conditional on Sweden joining NATO.
A decision to send Jas Gripen to Ukraine must be made immediately, according to the opposition Center Party leader Muharrem Demirok. All opposition parties in Sweden are in favour, but the Social Democrats have had a reservation that Sweden should first be a member of NATO.
"When that happens, it's time to send planes", Social Democrat party leader Magdalena Andersson said in a speech at Sergels torg in Stockholm this weekend at a manifestation in support of Ukraine.
The government and Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson have announced that they will not take a position on the issue until after the NATO accession.
The Swedish Armed Forces have conducted a review of whether Sweden can send planes, but the conclusions are classified.
"In all its announcements, regardless of weapon system, the Armed Forces have been clear that the restocking for Sweden must follow what we can spare. This is extremely important," says Muharrem Demirok.
He points out that the Jas Gripen manufacturer Saab has been open about the fact that the company has a number of ready-made fighter jet frames, which means that they can relatively quickly replace planes sent to Ukraine.
