Turkish parliament approves Sweden’s bid to join NATO
Europe, News January 25, 2024 1 Comment on Turkish parliament approves Sweden’s bid to join NATOAlmost 20 months after Stockholm’s initial application, Turkey has finally become closer than ever to approving Sweden’s bid to join the NATO alliance after the Turkish parliament ratified Sweden’s NATO membership bid on January 23, 2024.
Turkey’s legislative assembly, which is dominated by President Tayyip Erdogan’s ruling alliance, gave a decisive vote of 287-55 in favor of approving Sweden’s application.
“We support NATO enlargement to improve the alliance’s deterrence efforts… We hope Finland and Sweden’s attitude towards fighting terrorism sets an example for our other allies,” Fuat Oktay, head of parliament’s foreign affairs commission and a ruling AK Party member, said during the debate.
“I greatly appreciate the Turkish Parliament’s decision to approve Sweden’s entry into NATO today,” U.S. Ambassador Jeff Flake said in a written statement following the voting by the Turkish parliament. He said Turkey’s “commitment to the NATO Alliance clearly demonstrates our enduring partnership.”
Sweden had applied to join the NATO alliance to enhance its security measures in response to the alarming escalation of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine. The resounding majority in favor of the application underscores the assembly’s commitment to addressing the evolving geopolitical landscape and ensuring the protection of nations in the face of regional conflicts.
All NATO members need to approve applications from countries seeking to join the alliance. When Sweden and Finland asked to join in 2022, Turkey raised objections over what it said was the two countries’ protection of groups it deems terrorists.
Swedish Foreign Minister Tobias Billstrom welcomed the approval from the Turkish parliament, stating, “We eagerly anticipate President Erdogan’s endorsement of the ratification document.” In a written statement, Billstrom emphasized the importance of this step in solidifying Sweden’s accession to enhanced security measures.
It is anticipated that President Erdogan will finalize the legislation by signing it in the coming days, bringing Sweden one step closer to full approval.
The last hurdle in Sweden’s accession to NATO remains Hungary, where Prime Minister Viktor Orban, known for his amicable relations with Russian President Vladimir Putin, has yet to give the green light, making it the sole member state yet to endorse Sweden’s accession.
Turkey’s changing stance
Following a series of back-and-forth meetings mediated by the NATO leadership, diplomatic engagements, and agreements, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan announced his support for Sweden’s application to join the NATO military alliance. The announcement came at Vilnius, Lithuania, where the alliance leaders have gathered for the annual NATO Summit.
In return for the approval, Sweden agreed to work closely to address Turkey’s security concerns. NATO said in its joint statement that “Sweden has amended its constitution, changed its laws, significantly expanded its counter-terrorism cooperation against the PKK, and resumed arms exports to Turkiye,” all mentioned in the 2022 Trilateral Memorandum. Both Ankara and Stockholm countries recognized that counter-terrorism cooperation requires long-term commitment, extending beyond Sweden’s accession to NATO.
Hours after Ankara’s decision in Vilnius, the U.S. administration announced it would move forward with the transfer of F-16 fighter jets to Turkey in consultation with the United States Congress. Turkey had requested to buy $20 billion in F-16 fighters and nearly 80 modernization kits for its existing warplanes. However, the deal has been stalled since 2021.
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[…] has finally become closer than ever to approving Sweden’s bid to join the NATO alliance after the Turkish parliament ratified Sweden’s NATO membership bid on January 23, 2024. Turkey’s legislative assembly, which is dominated by President Tayyip […]