The parliament of Turkey has given its approval for Sweden to join NATO, removing a major obstacle for their entry into the military alliance.
On Tuesday, Turkish lawmakers approved. is a highly debated issue in Swedish politics.
The topic of Sweden’s inclusion in NATO is a controversial topic in the realm of Swedish politics.
Overcoming a significant obstacle, the previously unaligned country can now join the military alliance.
The lawmakers approved Sweden’s agreement to join by a vote of 287 to 55, with four members choosing not to vote. The agreement will take effect once it is published in the Official Gazette, which is anticipated to happen quickly.
Hungary then becomes
the sole ally of NATO
Sweden’s admission was not ratified.
On social media, it was stated that @POTUS considers Sweden to be a valuable defense ally and believes their inclusion in NATO will enhance the safety and strength of the U.S. and the Alliance.
The decision made by the Turkish parliament was also praised by the U.S. Ambassador to Turkey, Jeff Flake, who described it as a beneficial action for Sweden, Turkey, and NATO.
NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg expressed his expectation for Hungary to promptly finish its national ratification, according to a statement given to Reuters on Tuesday.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip ErdoganÂ
I have ultimately decided to back Sweden’s request to join NATO.
In July of 2023, Stoltenberg posted on Twitter that Erdogan had a meeting with Kristersson and they reached a decision about Sweden joining the EU. This occurred shortly after Erdogan stated that the EU should prioritize considering Turkey’s entry into the organization.
Last year, during a NATO summit in Lithuania, President Biden said
He eagerly anticipated meeting with 32 members, plus Sweden, in the near future.
According to Secretary of State Antony Blinken, if Sweden becomes a member of NATO, it would strongly convey a message to Russian President Vladimir Putin about their aggression towards Ukraine. This statement was made during an interview with “CBS Mornings” in July, after Erdogan’s ratification.
Blinken stated that Putin will not outlast Ukraine and it would be best for him to end the aggressive war as soon as possible.
two of the most recent members of the European Union, would bring “important voices and perspectives”
According to Blinken, the inclusion of Sweden and Finland – both relatively new members of the European Union – would add significant viewpoints and insights. 2009
In April 2009, it became a member of NATO.
This would demonstrate that the alliance is becoming even more cohesive and gaining strength.Sweden applied in 2022
to become a member of NATO in addition to Finland.
In the previous month, the foreign affairs committee of the Turkish parliament approved Sweden’s request in the initial phase of the legislative procedure, following the submission of its accession protocol by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan for lawmaker’s endorsement.
In support of Sweden’s inclusion in the previous month, Deputy Foreign Minister Burak Akcapar mentioned the actions Sweden had taken to address Turkish requests. These actions included removing limitations on sales in the defense industry and modifying laws related to counter-terrorism.
Sweden has committed to further collaboration with Turkey in the fight against terrorism and to assist Turkey’s efforts to revitalize its pursuit of EU membership.
The primary opposition party in Turkey backed Sweden’s inclusion in the alliance, while a center-right party and the pro-Kurdish party in the country stated their opposition to it.
According to Musavat Dervisoglu, a member of the Good Party in parliament, Sweden’s actions regarding extradition of wanted criminals and combating terrorism have been minimal and inadequate.
Erdogan has linked ratification of Sweden’s NATO membership to the U.S. Congress’ approval of a Turkish request to purchase 40 new F-16 fighter jets and kits to modernize Turkey’s existing fleet. He has also urged Canada and other NATO allies to lift arms embargoes on Turkey.
Koray Aydin, a member of the Good Party, called on parliament to delay ratifying Sweden’s membership until the F-16 sales and modernization kits are approved in Washington. He warned that Turkey could lose a valuable bargaining tool if the ratification is rushed.
The Biden administration did not explicitly connect the F-16 sale to Turkey’s approval of Sweden’s NATO membership. However, many influential members of Congress stated that they would not endorse the sale until Turkey agrees to Sweden’s inclusion in the alliance.
Officials in the administration anticipate swift approval of the F-16 sale once Turkey officially ratifies Sweden’s NATO membership.
John Kirby, spokesperson for the National Security Council in Washington, stated that Sweden is fully prepared to join as a member of NATO.
He stated that Sweden should join NATO as they possess a highly advanced military that aligns well with our own, and their inclusion would greatly enhance the capabilities of the alliance.
In response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, Sweden and Finland shifted their long-standing stance of military neutrality and aligned themselves with NATO’s security protection.
Hungary has also stalled Sweden’s bid, alleging that Swedish politicians have told “blatant lies” about the condition of Hungary’s democracy. Hungary has said it would not be the last to approve accession, although it was not clear when the Hungarian parliament intends to hold a vote.
On Tuesday, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán stated that he wrote a letter to his Swedish counterpart, Ulf Kristersson, inviting him to come to Budapest and discuss Sweden’s potential membership in NATO.
Source: cbsnews.com