ANKARA: The Turkish parliament’s Foreign Affairs Committee has given its approval to legislation facilitating Sweden’s entry into NATO, marking a significant step in the process. The approval, granted on Tuesday, sets the stage for a crucial vote in the general assembly to determine the full endorsement or rejection of Sweden’s NATO membership.
Deputy Foreign Minister Burak Akcapar provided a comprehensive briefing to the committee on the procedural aspects of Sweden’s NATO accession, and lawmakers engaged in discussions before the committee’s decisive vote.
In October, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan signed Sweden’s NATO accession protocol, submitting it to the parliament for further consideration.
Sweden Appreciates Turkish Parliamentary Committee’s Approval
Swedish Foreign Minister Tobias Billstrom expressed appreciation for the Foreign Affairs Committee’s approval, stating, “We welcome the approval of Sweden’s NATO membership application in the Foreign Affairs Committee in Turkiye. The next step will be the Parliament voting on this matter. We eagerly look forward to becoming a NATO member.”
Both Finland and Sweden, neighboring Russia in the Nordic region, applied for NATO membership in the wake of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. While Turkiye endorsed Finland’s NATO membership in March, it conditioned its approval for Sweden on adherence to a trilateral memorandum signed in June 2022, addressing Ankara’s security concerns.
The NATO accession of any new member requires unanimous approval from existing members, including Turkiye, a longstanding member with the alliance for over 70 years and possessing the second-largest army within NATO.
Hungary stands as the sole NATO member, apart from Turkiye, yet to finalize its approval of Sweden’s bid to join the alliance. The forthcoming general assembly vote in Turkiye will be a pivotal moment in shaping the future of Sweden’s NATO membership.
