Turkey’s Parliament Approves Sweden’s NATO Membership Bid, Ending 20-Month Delay
After a 20-month-long delay, Turkey’s parliament has finally approved Sweden’s NATO membership bid. The decision came after more than four hours of debates, with the legislators ratifying Sweden’s accession protocol by an overwhelming majority of 287 votes to 55, with four abstentions. This development is expected to be signed into law by President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in the coming days, much to the relief of Ankara’s Western allies who have been frustrated by the delay.
Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson expressed his satisfaction with the outcome, stating that Stockholm is now “one step closer” to joining the alliance. Taking to social media platform X, he wrote, “Positive that the Grand General Assembly of Turkiye has voted in favor of Sweden’s NATO accession.” This approval leaves Hungary as the last holdout in the accession process that both Sweden and its neighbor Finland embarked on in response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine nearly two years ago.
Finland became the 31st member of NATO last April, effectively doubling the length of the alliance’s border with Russia. This move also significantly bolstered the defenses of three small Baltic nations that joined NATO following the collapse of the Soviet Union. Sweden and Finland had previously pursued a policy of military non-alignment during the Cold War-era confrontation between Russia and the United States. However, Russia’s invasion of its western neighbor changed the geopolitical landscape and prompted Sweden’s desire to join NATO.
Turkey’s initial resistance to Sweden’s NATO accession was primarily centered around Ankara’s concerns about Stockholm’s perceived acceptance of Kurdish groups that Turkey views as “terrorists.” In response, Sweden tightened its antiterrorism legislation and implemented other security measures demanded by Erdogan regarding members of the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK), which is also classified as a “terrorist” group by the European Union and the United States.
To further ease Turkey’s concerns, Sweden and NATO members Finland, Canada, and the Netherlands took steps to relax Turkey’s arms export policies. The Turkish parliament’s foreign affairs committee had already approved Sweden’s bid last month after Erdogan submitted it to parliament in October. However, Erdogan also made it clear that he expected the United States to fulfill its promise of delivering a batch of F-16 fighter jets for Turkey’s aging air force.
Erdogan discussed this matter with US President Joe Biden last month, and US officials have indicated that Turkey’s request could gain the necessary congressional approval if Sweden’s NATO accession is finalized. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken reaffirmed this position during his recent visit to Istanbul, stating, “We have not parsed words about how ready we are for Sweden to formally join the alliance. We have long felt that [Sweden] has met its commitment, and we look forward to this process moving forward.”
Turkey’s approval of Sweden’s NATO membership bid marks a significant step in strengthening the alliance and addressing regional security concerns. It also highlights the complex dynamics between Turkey, Russia, and the Kurdish issue. As Sweden moves closer to joining NATO, it will undoubtedly contribute to the collective defense capabilities of the alliance and further solidify its position in the changing geopolitical landscape of Europe.
