Turkey’s Parliament Committee Approves Sweden’s Bid to Join NATO
ANKARA, Turkey (AP) — The Turkish parliament’s foreign affairs committee has given its consent to Sweden’s bid to join NATO on Tuesday, bringing the previously nonaligned Nordic country closer to membership in the Western military alliance.
Following the committee’s decision, Sweden’s accession protocol will now need to be approved in the Turkish parliament’s general assembly for the last stage of the legislative process in Turkey. No date has been set for this crucial approval.
The approval comes after more than a year of delay by Turkey, a NATO member, accusing Sweden of being too lenient toward groups that Ankara regards as threats to its security, including Kurdish militants and members of a network that Ankara blames for a failed coup in 2016.
Swedish Foreign Minister Tobias Billström expressed his delight at the committee’s decision, taking to social media to say, “The next step is for parliament to vote on the matter. We look forward to becoming a member of NATO.”
NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg also welcomed the development, emphasizing that Sweden’s membership will make NATO stronger and urged Turkey and Hungary to complete their ratifications as soon as possible. Hungary has also stalled Sweden’s bid, alleging that Swedish politicians have falsified the condition of Hungary’s democracy.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan had previously linked ratification of Sweden’s NATO membership to the U.S. Congress’ approval of a Turkish request to purchase 40 new F-16 fighter jets and kits to modernize Turkey’s existing fleet. He also called on Canada and other NATO allies to lift arms embargoes imposed on Turkey.
The delays in ratification have frustrated other NATO allies who were swift to accept Sweden into the alliance. This development follows the shift in Sweden’s traditional policy of military nonalignment in response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Sweden’s imminent NATO membership follows Finland’s accession in April, making it NATO’s 31st member, after Turkey’s parliament ratified the Nordic country’s bid. NATO requires the unanimous approval of all existing members to expand, and Turkey and Hungary are the only countries that have been holding out.