Turkey's parliament has ratified Sweden's bid to join the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), concluding a prolonged 20-month process. This decision by the Turkish General Assembly, led by President Tayyip Erdogan's ruling alliance, marks a crucial step in expanding NATO in the wake of Russia's aggression in Ukraine.
With a decisive 287-55 vote, Turkey's endorsement paves the way for Sweden to enhance NATO's strategic positioning, particularly in the Baltic Sea region. The move comes after Sweden, along with Finland, sought NATO membership in 2022, seeking security assurances amidst Russian military expansionism.
Turkey's agreement, pivotal for the NATO enlargement process, required all member states' approval. However, Turkey had previously expressed reservations, citing Sweden's alleged leniency towards groups Turkey considers terrorist organizations. Notably, Ankara had earlier ratified Finland's membership in April last year while holding back on Sweden, alongside Hungary.
Fuat Oktay, the head of parliament's foreign affairs commission and a member of the ruling AK Party, emphasized the importance of NATO's expansion for deterrence. "We support NATO enlargement to improve the alliance's deterrence efforts... We hope Finland and Sweden's attitude towards fighting terrorism sets an example for our other allies," Oktay stated during the debate.
The decision has garnered international attention and approval. U.S. Ambassador Jeff Flake praised Turkey's commitment to NATO, indicating a strengthened partnership. Swedish Foreign Minister Tobias Billstrom welcomed the approval, looking forward to President Erdogan's formal sign-off on the ratification.
Erdogan's ratification is anticipated within days, leaving Hungary, led by Prime Minister Viktor Orban, who maintains friendly ties with Russian President Vladimir Putin, as the sole member state yet to approve Sweden's accession. Orban has extended an invitation to his Swedish counterpart for discussions, with the Hungarian parliament expected to reconvene mid-February.
NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg welcomed the Turkish move and expressed anticipation for Hungary to complete its ratification process promptly. The developments are particularly noteworthy given Turkey and Hungary's relatively amicable relations with Russia compared to other NATO members.
The ratification process has allowed Turkey to secure certain concessions. Ankara had urged Stockholm to adopt a firmer stance on groups like the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), recognized as a terrorist organization by the EU and the US. In response, Sweden implemented a new anti-terrorism bill and, alongside Finland, Canada, and the Netherlands, eased policies on arms exports to Turkey.
In Turkey's parliament, Erdogan's AK Party, alongside its nationalist allies MHP and the main opposition CHP, endorsed Sweden's bid, while some opposition parties opposed it.
The approval of Sweden's NATO membership intertwines with Turkey's ongoing defense negotiations with the U.S., particularly concerning the sale of F-16 fighter jets. The White House has shown support for the sale, and analysts anticipate a swift deal following Turkey's ratification of Sweden's NATO membership, although the U.S. Congress has yet to set a clear timeline for approval.
This landmark decision by Turkey not only reshapes NATO's strategic landscape but also reflects the shifting geopolitical alliances and priorities in a world increasingly affected by regional conflicts and power plays.
