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Sweden’s NATO bid gaining momentum after Turkish committee approves
In a key development, Sweden's journey to NATO membership moved a step forward on Tuesday as Turkey's foreign affairs committee gave its approval.
Swedish and NATO flags are seen printed on paper this illustration taken April 13, 2022. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration/File Photo
The committee’s decision was welcomed enthusiastically by Swedish Foreign Minister Tobias Billström on the social media platform X (formerly known as Twitter).“The next step is for parliament to vote on the matter. We look forward to becoming a member of NATO,” he wrote.
NATO-Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg also welcomed the news, urging Turkey and Hungary, the only countries yet to ratify, to do so rapidly. He stated that, “Sweden’s membership will make NATO stronger.”
The approval by the Turkish committee holds immense significance for Sweden to enter into the Western military alliance.
Turkey first delayed NATO accession, citing that Sweden was too lenient on certain groups. The committee’s decision represents some progress in this process.
Deputy Foreign Minister Burak Akcapar noted Sweden’s efforts to satisfy Turkish demands, and the vote in favor by three-fifths of Nato states on Tuesday is a good sign. The next hurdle is to get the accession protocol approved by Turkey’s general assembly of parliament.
Adding another layer to this complexity is President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s recent link between Sweden’ s NATO ratification and U.S. Congress approval for Turkish fighter jets. Billström’s optimism and dedication to the NATO cause are generally interpreted as Sweden being serious about changing its long-standing policy of military nonalignment, especially in light of increasingly tense geopolitics.
