Despite diplomacy, Hungary & Turkey still blocking Sweden and Finland from NATO
In the corridors of power in Stockholm and Helsinki, the champagne is on ice.
After four months, 28 out of 30 NATO states have ratified the treaty changes in their national parliaments that would approve membership for Finland and Sweden, with most having already deposited the required paperwork in Washington DC.
But despite a flurry of recent diplomatic activity, there are two reasons why Nordic champagne corks aren't popping quite yet: Hungary and Turkey.
NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg was in Istanbul for talks this week and moved the needle slightly, urging the Turks to let Sweden and Finland in.
"It is time to welcome them as full members of our Alliance," the Norwegian former prime minister tweeted, after meeting Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu.
Experts say that in practice, little has changed, even as the new Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson prepares to head to Turkey next week for more discussions.
"The talking point is indeed still the same, that 'concrete action is needed'," said Toni Alaranta, a Turkey expert at the Finnish Institute of International Affairs FIIA.
"Stoltenberg finally made a more positive move and publicly declared that we, Finland and Sweden, have done what we can. We have to wait for Sweden's PM's talks with Erdogan next week to see whether any progress is achieved, but it's not looking very promising," Alaranta told Euronews.
The diplomatic full-court press continues with Hungary as well.
Last week the Finnish and Swedish prime ministers met in Helsinki, and Sanna Marin said the two countries would join NATO "hand in hand."
And Finnish President Sauli Niinistö had a phone call with Hungarian PM Victor Orbán last week as well, and said afterwards it was "Good that Finland can
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