Türkiye takes another step towards admitting Sweden into NATO

The Turkish Parliament's Foreign Affairs Committee agreed to Sweden's accession to NATO, but it still has to wait for the Turkish Parliament's session to approve it before Sweden can "set foot" in this organization.

Overview of the Turkish Parliament's Foreign Affairs Committee meeting approving the decision to allow Sweden to join NATO in Ankara, December 26, 2023.

According to a VNA correspondent in the Middle East, Türkiye's state news agency Anadolu reported on December 26 that the country's Parliament's Foreign Affairs Committee agreed on the same day to Sweden's joining the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO).

The procedure allows Stockholm to move one step closer to joining the US-led military alliance.

However, the most important procedure still has to wait for the general session of the Turkish Parliament to pass before Sweden can “set foot” in NATO. Ankara has not yet set a date for a meeting to vote on this issue.

Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan has previously tried to delay Sweden's bid to join NATO, accusing Stockholm of "harboring" Kurdish activists whom Ankara considers "terrorists."

Recently, Mr. Erdogan asked the US to sell a batch of F-16 fighter jets to Ankara in exchange for the country accepting Sweden's membership in NATO.

After months of delay, on October 23, Mr. Erdogan signed the documents supporting Sweden's accession to NATO to submit to the National Assembly for consideration and approval.

However, even if the Ankara parliament approves these proposals, Stockholm still needs to overcome the final "barrier" of Hungary's approval.

Sofia has yet to initiate a vote on Sweden's membership.

Source