Turkey parliament backs Sweden’s Nato membership
Turkish lawmakers have officially endorsed Sweden’s bid to join NATO in a significant advancement for the Nordic country’s path to membership.
The vote, which had been delayed for an extended period, signifies a crucial development since Sweden submitted its application in 2022 following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
However, Turkey had initially withheld approval due to a dispute over what it perceived as Sweden’s backing of Kurdish separatists.
It is anticipated that Turkish President Erdogan will sign the legislation in the coming days. With this approval, Hungary remains the only NATO member yet to ratify Sweden’s accession.
In response to the vote, Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson expressed on social media that the country is now “one step closer to becoming a full member of NATO.”
NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg welcomed Turkey’s decision and expressed confidence in Hungary completing its national ratification promptly.
Hungary has accused Sweden of adopting a hostile attitude, while Sweden has criticized Hungary for perceived lapses in adhering to the EU’s democratic principles.
Despite the ongoing tensions, there are indications of progress. Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban recently invited his Swedish counterpart to Budapest for talks, suggesting that “a more intensive dialogue could contribute to reinforcing trust.”
Sweden’s Foreign Minister Tobias Billstrom noted that, although there may be no immediate reason to negotiate with Hungary, the two nations can engage in dialogue to address outstanding issues.
Turkey had been blocking Sweden’s application until July, when an agreement was reached. On Tuesday evening lawmakers voted 287-55 in favour of Swedish membership. President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is now expected to sign the legislation.
Turkey had argued Sweden was giving refuge to Kurdish militants, and needed to do more to crack down on rebel groups like the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK), which it considers a terrorist organisation. The EU and US have also designated the PKK as a terrorist group.
Like any of Nato’s 31 member countries, Turkey has the power to block new nations from joining the group.
But Sweden introduced tougher anti-terrorism laws in June, making it illegal to give financial or logistical help to terrorist groups.
Sweden and its eastern neighbour Finland, both long considered as militarily neutral, announced their intention to join Nato in May 2022, several months after Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Finland formally joined in April, doubling the length of the alliance’s border with Russia.
