
Swedish and NATO flags are seen printed on paper this illustration taken April 13, 2022. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration/File Photo
Turkey’s parliamentary foreign affairs commission has given its approval to Sweden’s NATO membership bid, marking a significant advancement in the Western bloc’s expansion. The decision comes after a 19-month delay, during which Ankara sought security-related concessions from Stockholm. President Tayyip Erdogan’s ruling AK Party, which controls the commission, voted in favor of the bid, initiated by Sweden amid Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
The commission’s endorsement is a crucial step, and the next phase involves a vote in the parliamentary general assembly, where Erdogan’s party also holds a majority. Anticipated to occur within weeks, this vote would then prompt Erdogan to sign it into law, concluding a protracted process that has strained Ankara’s relations with Western allies.
Commission head Fuat Oktay cautioned against expecting a swift vote in the general assembly, stating that the parliament speaker would determine the timing. He emphasized that while the decision to submit it to the general assembly had been made, it didn’t guarantee a rapid passage.
Erdogan’s AK Party, along with its nationalist MHP allies and the main opposition CHP, voted in favor of ratification, while the small Islamist Felicity party and right-nationalist Iyi party opposed it. Swedish Foreign Minister Tobias Billstrom welcomed the commission’s approval, expressing Sweden’s anticipation of joining NATO.
Boris Ruge, NATO Assistant Secretary General for Political Affairs and Security Policy, hailed the commission’s approval as “excellent news.” However, Turkish lawmaker Oguz Kaan Salici, a member of the CHP, revealed that his party sought clarification on changes since the Nov. 16 commission meeting. He expected all parties to adopt a similar stance in the general assembly.
Turkey had raised objections in May the previous year to both Sweden’s and Finland’s NATO membership requests, citing concerns about their perceived support for groups Turkey deems terrorist and their defense trade embargoes. While Finland’s bid was ratified in April, Turkey kept Sweden waiting until it addressed issues related to the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK). Sweden responded by implementing an anti-terrorism bill and relaxing arms-export policies.
Erdogan linked Sweden’s ratification to U.S. approval of F-16 fighter jet sales to Turkey. Following a recent call with U.S. President Joe Biden, Erdogan indicated that Washington was considering the ratification in connection with the fighter jet request. The White House supports the sale, but there is no clear timeline for U.S. Congress approval, and Turkey faces some congressional opposition over delaying NATO enlargement and its human rights record.
Amid the war in Ukraine, Turkey’s diplomatic stance, maintaining good relations with both Moscow and Kyiv, has raised concerns among NATO members. Nevertheless, the approval of Sweden’s NATO bid signals a potential resolution to the prolonged process and contributes to the alliance’s bolstering of defenses in the Baltic Sea region.
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