The Turkish parliament’s foreign affairs committee gave its consent to Sweden’s bid to join NATO on Tuesday, bringing the previously nonaligned Nordic country closer to membership in the Western military alliance. Sweden’s accession protocol will now need to be approved in the Turkish parliament’s general assembly for the last step of the legislative process in Turkey, although no date has been set.
Turkey, a NATO member, has delayed ratification of Sweden’s membership for more than a year, accusing the country of being too lenient toward groups that Ankara regards as threats to its security, including Kurdish militants and members of a network that Ankara blames for a failed coup in 2016.
The Turkish parliament’s foreign affairs committee was discussing Sweden’s membership in NATO last month, but the meeting was adjourned after legislators from Erdogan’s ruling party submitted a motion for a postponement. However, the committee voted in favor of Sweden’s application to join on Tuesday after resuming its deliberations. Deputy Foreign Minister Burak Akcapar noted that Sweden had taken significant steps to meet Turkey’s demands in international relations, including lifting restrictions on defense industry sales and amending anti-terrorism laws.
According to Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, ratification of Sweden’s NATO membership is linked to the U.S. Congress’ approval of Turkey’s request to buy 40 new F-16 fighter jets and kits to modernize its existing fleet. Erdogan also called on Canada and other NATO allies to lift arms embargoes imposed on Turkey. Despite the backing from the White House, there is opposition in Congress to military sales to Turkey.
NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg and Swedish Foreign Minister Tobias Billström welcomed the committee’s decision regarding Sweden’s NATO membership. NATO requires unanimous approval of all existing members to expand, and the delays have frustrated other NATO allies who were swift to accept Sweden and Finland into the alliance.