Sweden is on the brink of receiving NATO's defense guarantee after Hungary ratified its membership, leaving only procedural steps for full inclusion.

This significant step means Sweden will soon be covered by Article 5, which states that an attack on one member is considered an attack on all.

However, activation of this article requires unanimous consent from all member states, raising questions about the alliance's responsiveness in a crisis.

Despite the potential for delays, experts believe that NATO members have a strong interest in upholding defense commitments.

Meanwhile, there has been no official response from Russia to Sweden's impending NATO membership, although historical reactions suggest Moscow views such expansions unfavorably.