Turkish Parliament Approves Sweden's NATO Membership Accession After Waiting 20 Months

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg and Swedish PM Ulf Kristersson. (Source: NATO)

JAKARTA - The Turkish parliament approved Sweden's North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) membership accession on Tuesday, after waiting 20 months since the application.

Turkey's general assembly, which is majority controlled by President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's alliance, voted 287-55 to approve a request Sweden first submitted in 2022 to beef up its security in response to Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

"We support the expansion of NATO to increase the alliance's deterrence efforts. We hope that Finland and Sweden's stance in fighting terrorism will be an example for our other allies," said Chairman of the Turkish Parliament's Foreign Affairs Commission and member of the ruling AK Party, Fuat Oktay, reported by Reuters, January 24.

It is known that all NATO members must agree to applications from countries wishing to join the alliance.

When Sweden and Finland asked to join in 2022, Turkey raised objections over what both countries said was protection against groups it considers terrorists.

"I really appreciate the Turkish Parliament's decision to approve Sweden's entry into NATO today," said US Ambassador Jeff Flake in a written statement.

He said, "Turkey's commitment to the NATO Alliance clearly demonstrates our enduring partnership."

Turkey itself agreed to Finland's accession to membership in April last year but, along with Hungary, kept Sweden waiting. Swedish Foreign Minister Tobias Billstrom welcomed the Turkish parliament's approval.

"We are now waiting for President Erdogan to sign the ratification document," Billstrom said in a written statement.

President Erdogan is expected to sign the law in the coming days, so Hungary will be the only member that has not agreed to Sweden's accession.

Separately, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg welcomed Turkey's move, and then waited for approval from Hungary.

"I also count on Hungary to complete its national ratification as soon as possible."

Earlier, Turkey urged Stockholm to strengthen its stance against local members of the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), which the European Union and the United States also consider a terrorist group, before giving approval.

In response, Stockholm introduced a new anti-terrorism law that made membership of a terrorist organization illegal. Sweden, Finland, Canada and the Netherlands have also taken steps to relax arms export policies to Turkey.