NATO's Unity Tested by Turkey, Hungary, and Russia Standoff

The refusal of Turkey and Hungary to admit Sweden as a new member of NATO highlights divisions within the alliance and threatens its unity in the face of the standoff with Russia. Turkish President Erdogan and Hungarian Prime Minister Orban have cited differing objections to Sweden's entry, including security concerns and political disputes. These holdouts underscore the ability of any member state to disrupt alliance priorities. The dispute over Sweden's accession, along with other differences within NATO, including military spending levels and Ukraine's path to membership, could erode NATO's deterrent power against Russia.